Assessing durable solutions to internal displacement at the area level: a literature review (2010-2024)

It outlines three main pathways—return, relocation, and local integration—yet notes that a comprehensive global approach to evaluating these solutions remains elusive. Despite advancements in assessment tools over the past 14 years, nearly 76 million IDPs by 2023 (with higher projections for 2024) underscore the urgent need for more effective methodologies.

This serves as the basis for a new joint toolkit being developed by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and IMPACT Initiatives, focusing on area-based assessments (ABAs) that integrate humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. ABAs are highlighted for their multisectoral and participatory approach, capturing community-level data to inform tailored interventions. Key challenges include operationalizing global guidelines at the local level, selecting context-specific indicators, addressing data gaps in volatile settings, and managing ethical and resource constraints. The paper stresses the importance of early engagement with local authorities and communities, alignment with existing policies, and fostering cross-sector partnerships to translate assessment outcomes into actionable local plans.