EHAGL Regional Knowledge Exchange Social Protection & Forced Displacement

Knowledge Exchange Social Protection & Forced Displacement

  Working Group Description

The social protection and forced displacement knowledge exchange is a forum for organisations working on this topic to come together to learn from each other and external stakeholders, to exchange information and best practices and explore opportunities for joint activities. Membership is open to regional NGOs/CSOs, UN agencies, IFIs, Bilateral Donors and Research Institutes across the humanitarian-development nexus in Eastern, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes. The Exchange aims to stimulate discussion, research, and sharing of best practices related to the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations and vulnerable or marginalized host communities into emerging national social protection systems and programmes.

The Topic
Africa’s East, Horn and Great Lakes Region is experiencing increased frequency, severity and duration of crises creating a context of substantial and growing needs, with new conflicts swelling displaced and refugee caseloads. This is combined with the increasingly protracted nature of displacement , growing climatic shocks and inadequate humanitarian resources to meet the needs that these scenarios are generating.

However, despite these challenges progress can be seen in the establishment, strengthening and reach of social protection policies, systems and programmes across the region alongside increased investment in these systems. This is primarily development partner resources, but some countries are seeing a growth in government investment also. COVID-19 has accelerated efforts to scale up social protection systems. There is wide acceptance of the role that social protection can play in reducing poverty and addressing lifecycle risks and vulnerabilities. Pilots are developing into government social safety net programmes, delivery systems are improving and there is an increased focus on developing the shock-responsive capacities of these systems. Coverage is growing despite challenges around fragmentation, capacity, coordination and resourcing. This links to the increasing use of cash transfers as a humanitarian response modality and robust evidence of the efficacy of social protection and social transfers in both development and crisis contexts.

Humanitarian assistance has been performing the same role as social assistance for many years. In contexts of increasingly protracted displacement and lack of durable solutions for most refugees, inclusion in social protection systems, backed by international development investments, can contribute to more predictable alternatives to humanitarian assistance. UNHCR is working with governments and international actors to implement an area-based approach promoting access to social protection programmes for displaced and host populations. An increased focus on developing inclusive systems provides opportunities for broadening discussions on how Persons of Concern (PoC) can benefit from social protection to provide more effective, efficient and sustainable solutions to affected populations. This requires re-examining ways of responding to the basic and protection needs of forcibly displaced communities and exploring the role that government social protection systems can play in meeting the needs of PoC, accelerating the agenda of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), promoting area-based solutions, efficiencies, inclusion and sustainability.

  Working Group Documents
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    FAO-UNHCR: Issue brief - Sustainable Forest Management as Means to Enhance Self-Reliance and Promote Climate Resilience in Displacement Sett...

    Document
    The FAO-UNHCR Issue Brief developed in the framework of the ECHO project “Greening the humanitarian response in displacement settings in Djibouti, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda”. This brief, titled "S...
    Publish date: 12 December 2024 (12 days ago)
    Create date: 13 December 2024 (11 days ago)
  • Download

    FAO - Sudan | Damage and Loss in the Agriculture Sector: Preliminary Analysis

    Document
    From April 2023 to the present day, the Sudan has experienced a huge escalation in conflict which has had devastating effects on the agriculture and food systems sector. During the conflict period, th...
    Publish date: 9 December 2024 (15 days ago)
    Create date: 10 December 2024 (14 days ago)
  • Download

    Presentation - Climate Risks and Self-Reliance Programming for Displaced People - December 2024

    Document
    The presentation draws from RSRI’s latest findings on their study sharing insights on climate solutions to building resilience and providing sustainable livelihoods.
    Publish date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
    Create date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
  • Download

    Presentation - Building water security for resilient livelihoods - December 2024

    Document
    CGIAR shares on the ‘Building water security for resilient livelihoods’. In the Somali Region of Ethiopia, access and availability of water for livelihoods is a major challenge. Agricultural and pasto...
    Publish date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
    Create date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
  • Download

    WB PEI - The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2024: Pathways to Scale

    Document
    The State of Economic Inclusion Report (SEI) 2024 explores efforts to scale up economic inclusion programs - bundles of coordinated, multidimensional interventions that support individuals, households...
    Publish date: 20 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 21 November 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    Sudan Regional Refugee Response - May to December 2023 (Revised August 2023)

    Document
    The 2023 Sudan Emergency Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) was launched in May 2023, revised in June 2023, and again in August 2023 reflecting the dramatic and ongoing increases in external displac...
    Publish date: 4 September 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 4 September 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    Social protection responses to COVID-19 for forcibly displaced persons

    Document
    Refugees and other Persons of Concern (PoC)1 to UNHCR have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to serious health, socio-economic and protection impacts. Some governme...
    Publish date: 30 November 2020 (4 years ago)
    Create date: 24 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    Brief - DREEM Project Overview

    Document
    DREEM is an exciting partnership between WUSC and the Mastercard Foundation where WUSC plays a unique role as a technical assistance and strategic learning partner to the Mastercard Foundation and its...
    Publish date: 3 October 2024 (2 months ago)
    Create date: 3 October 2024 (2 months ago)
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    UNHCR Sudan - Solutions and Livelihoods Factsheet - November 2023

    Document
    UNHCR Sudan - Solutions and Livelihoods Factsheet - November 2023
    Publish date: 1 November 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 6 November 2023 (1 year ago)
  • Download

    CALP - Minimum Standard for Market Analysis - May 2024

    Document
    With growing recognition of the importance of market analysis in the humanitarian sector, a plethora of tools and guidance has been developed to support such exercises. While this has provided an oppo...
    Publish date: 4 May 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 30 May 2024 (6 months ago)
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    UNHCR - Cash and Shelter: Access to sustainable housing through cash assistance – key considerations and learning

    Document
    This recently published guidance document focuses on the use of cash assistance to enhance shelter solutions. It emphasizes the importance of unrestricted cash for sustainable housing, covering aspect...
    Publish date: 30 April 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 30 May 2024 (6 months ago)
  • Download

    Implementation Guide – Good Practices For Ensuring Data Protection And Privacy In Social Protection Systems

    Document
    This Implementation Guide is aimed at practitioners involved in the design, implementation, and expansion of social protection systems and programmes at the country level, especially regarding non-con...
    Publish date: 31 August 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 17 November 2022 (2 years ago)
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    Extending social protection to migrant workers, refugees and their families

    Document
    A guide for policymakers and practitioners
    Publish date: 31 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 18 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    EC - Social Protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus (SPAN) Operational Note - Forced Displacement

    Document
    Supplement to the Reference Document No 26 on Social Protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus. A Game Changer in Supporting People through Crises and provides an overview of the key inform...
    Publish date: 15 May 2019 (5 years ago)
    Create date: 14 March 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    Presentation - Climate Risks and Self-Reliance Programming for Displaced People - December 2024

    Document
    The presentation draws from RSRI’s latest findings on their study sharing insights on climate solutions to building resilience and providing sustainable livelihoods.
    Publish date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
    Create date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
  • Download

    Presentation - Building water security for resilient livelihoods - December 2024

    Document
    CGIAR shares on the ‘Building water security for resilient livelihoods’. In the Somali Region of Ethiopia, access and availability of water for livelihoods is a major challenge. Agricultural and pasto...
    Publish date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
    Create date: 5 December 2024 (19 days ago)
  • Download

    Presentation - Sustainable Livelihoods for Displaced Populations - October 2024

    Document
    Thomas Ginn presents an overview of CGD's research on policies and programs targeting livelihoods. Starting with an overview of labor market access and its effects, drawing on CGD's 2022 Refugee Work ...
    Publish date: 14 October 2024 (2 months ago)
    Create date: 26 November 2024 (28 days ago)
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    AVSI - Graduating to Resilience in Uganda - April 2024

    Document
    Webinar presentation during the PEI Open House on May 2, 2024: "Shedding Light on What Works: Economic Inclusion for Refugees and Host communities'
    Publish date: 2 May 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 7 May 2024 (7 months ago)
  • Download

    CALP - Cash Voucher Assistance, Social Protection and Cash Plus Programmes - April 2024

    Document
    Check out these workshop slides from ActivityInfo that examine the linkages between CVA and social protection and Cash Plus programmes. They follow a case study by Mercy Corps that looks into impact p...
    Publish date: 29 April 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 30 May 2024 (6 months ago)
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    IGAD Policy Framework on Refugee Protection

    Document
    This Policy Framework on Refugee Protection is a consolidation of the key findings and recommendations that reflect the IGAD Member States’ commitment to providing a safe haven for refugees, ensuring ...
    Publish date: 31 January 2024 (10 months ago)
    Create date: 5 March 2024 (9 months ago)
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    UNHCR Policy on Cash-based Interventions - 2022-2026

    Document
    Building on the Policy on Cash-Based Interventions (CBI) 2016-20211, this Policy sets the overall direction for UNHCR’s use of CBI from 2022 to 2026 inclusive, with the aim of scaling up and strengthe...
    Publish date: 5 September 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 6 September 2022 (2 years ago)
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    Emerging Lessons from World Bank Group Social Protection Investments in Refugee-Hosting Areas

    Document
    Emerging Lessons from World Bank Group Social Protection Investments in Refugee-Hosting Areas
    Publish date: 31 January 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 8 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    INCLUSION OF REFUGEES IN GOVERNMENT SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN AFRICA

    Document
    INCLUSION OF REFUGEES IN GOVERNMENT SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
    Publish date: 31 January 2022 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 8 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    ALIGNING HUMANITARIAN CASH ASSISTANCE WITH NATIONAL SOCIAL SAFETY NETS IN REFUGEE SETTINGS

    Document
    The purpose of this document is to share learning and considerations on how operations have or could progressively align humanitarian cash assistance for refugees to national social safety nets (SSN)...
    Publish date: 31 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 24 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    UNHCR Mapping of Social Safety Nets for Refugees

    Document
    The aim of the mapping of social safety nets (SSN) was to explore the potential for alignment between humanitarian cash assistance and SSN in forced displacement situations. It considered various as...
    Publish date: 31 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 24 February 2022 (2 years ago)
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    Mapping of the National Social Protection System in Ethiopia, including Social Health Protection

    Document
    The mapping of the national social protection system in Ethiopia, including social health insurance, is carried out as part of a joint technical study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) a...
    Publish date: 31 December 2021 (2 years ago)
    Create date: 24 February 2022 (2 years ago)
  • Download

    FAO-UNHCR: Issue brief - Sustainable Forest Management as Means to Enhance Self-Reliance and Promote Climate Resilience in Displacement Sett...

    Document
    The FAO-UNHCR Issue Brief developed in the framework of the ECHO project “Greening the humanitarian response in displacement settings in Djibouti, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda”. This brief, titled "S...
    Publish date: 12 December 2024 (12 days ago)
    Create date: 13 December 2024 (11 days ago)
  • Download

    FAO - Sudan | Damage and Loss in the Agriculture Sector: Preliminary Analysis

    Document
    From April 2023 to the present day, the Sudan has experienced a huge escalation in conflict which has had devastating effects on the agriculture and food systems sector. During the conflict period, th...
    Publish date: 9 December 2024 (15 days ago)
    Create date: 10 December 2024 (14 days ago)
  • Download

    WB PEI - The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2024: Pathways to Scale

    Document
    The State of Economic Inclusion Report (SEI) 2024 explores efforts to scale up economic inclusion programs - bundles of coordinated, multidimensional interventions that support individuals, households...
    Publish date: 20 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 21 November 2024 (1 month ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR - Global Appeal 2025

    Document
    This Global Appeal is a call to act – to protect, to respond, to empower, to include, and to seek solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless people. The Appeal has extensive information about bud...
    Publish date: 19 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 26 November 2024 (28 days ago)
  • Download

    UNHCR - No escape: On the frontlines of climate change, conflict and forced displacement - November 2024

    Document
    Three in every four displaced people are living in the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. The joint report “No escape: On the frontlines of climate change, conflict and forced displacement,” l...
    Publish date: 12 November 2024 (1 month ago)
    Create date: 26 November 2024 (28 days ago)
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    Ethiopia - Country Refugee Response Plan 2024

    Document
    Under the co-leadership of the Government of Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and UNHCR, the Ethiopia Country Refugee Response Plan (CRRP) for 2024 is the interagency refugee response i...
    Publish date: 30 April 2024 (7 months ago)
    Create date: 22 May 2024 (7 months ago)
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    UNHCR - Strategic Plan for Climate Action 2024-2030

    Document
    UNHCR’s newly released Strategic Plan for Climate Action 2024-2030 builds on the Strategic Framework for Climate Action to operationalize its commitment to reduce and manage the effects of climate cha...
    Publish date: 13 December 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 16 February 2024 (10 months ago)
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    UNHCR - Uganda: Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Strategic Directions 2023 - 2028

    Document
    UNHCR Uganda: Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Strategic Directions 2023 - 2028
    Publish date: 7 August 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 8 August 2023 (1 year ago)
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    UNHCR Kenya - Multi-year Strategy 2023 - 2026 - Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion

    Document
    This Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2023-2026 is developed jointly with government and non-government partners working on refugee self-reliance in Kenya. It provides a framework for UNHCR’s engagement in t...
    Publish date: 1 March 2023 (1 year ago)
    Create date: 15 March 2023 (1 year ago)
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    Handbook on social health protection for refugees: Approaches, lessons learned and practical tools to assess coverage options

    Document
    The purpose of this handbook is to guide UNHCR public health and programme staff and ILO staff working on social protection at country level on the considerations and practical steps required to asses...
    Publish date: 9 November 2020 (4 years ago)
    Create date: 7 February 2022 (2 years ago)

  • Working Group Key Contacts
    • Clare Gardner

      UNHCR Regional Bureau for East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, Nairobi, Kenya  Senior Social Protection Officer
    • Shana Hoehler

      ILO  Technical Officer – Social Health Protection for Refugees and Host Communities
      Links
    Social assistance in crises roundtable: knowledge gaps and policy challenges
    BASIC (Better Assistance in Crises) Research is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded programme examining why, how and when to use social protection approaches in different crisis contexts, to deliver more effective social assistance so that vulnerable people cope better with crises and meet their basic needs. This online roundtable discussion will be a dialogue with other researchers and practitioners on the ground.
    Fragility Forum: Emerging Research on Social Protection in Contexts of Fragility and Displacement
    Fragility Forum, a podcast summarising UNHCR studies and the ongoing WB-DFID Trust Fund and OECD studies on inclusion of refugees in SP systems and a roundtable with representatives from Mauritania, Republic of Congo and Yemen.
    Guidance Package - SPaN resources
    The European Commission (EC) created the Guidance Package (GP) on Social Protection across the Humanitarian-Development Nexus (SPaN) to provide concrete and practical guidance to social protection as an effective short- and long-term response to multivariate shocks, protracted crises and displacement based on the current body of knowledge, including brief definitions, and processes of social protection approaches in most challenging settings. The variety of contexts covered by the GP also includes countries where social protection systems are nationally led and those without any structures in place.
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