Strengthening Data on Solutions to Internal Displacement

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work, carried out at Headquarters, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery.

Framed by UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025, UNDP’s work on human mobility aims to address the drivers of migration and forced displacement, enhance the resilience of people on the move and communities, and expand the benefits of human mobility on sustainable development. The programmatic and policy advisory support, led by the Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility Team (RSHM) in the Crisis Bureau (CB), focuses predominantly on the following areas: (i) mitigating the adverse drivers of irregular migration and forced development; (ii) strengthening local governance, the rule of law and access to justice; (iii) promoting socio-economic (re)integration and social cohesion; (iv) harnessing the contribution of remittances and diaspora; and (v) addressing the interaction between climate change, environment and human mobility.

Against this backdrop, UNDP aims to contribute towards a more predictable and systematic development approach to address both internal and cross-border forced displacement. With the SDG Decade of Action, the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees and the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, UNDP is increasing its engagement and programming on inclusive and gender-responsive development solutions to forced displacement by accelerating and scaling up innovative and successful initiatives. Our aim is to work with governments in the most affected countries and communities to strengthen regional, national and local solutions for displaced populations and their communities, in close coordination with the UN system (Resident Coordinators) and partnership with humanitarian, other development and peace partners. UNDP’s strategy on development solutions to forced displacement is based on the following components:

• Robust data and evidence
• Innovative, nationally owned and locally led programming
• Multi-stakeholder engagement and partnerships
• Increased financing and oversight

Internal displacement has become a global concern. Due to violence and conflict, climate change and natural disasters, close to 60 million people were displaced within their own countries at the end of 2021 (IDMC, 2022). While some progress has been made to reduce displacement-related protection and assistance needs in the last three decades, responses including those related to internal displacement have been dominated by humanitarian action. Despite existing efforts, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) worldwide has doubled in the last two decades, including conflict and climate-change induced displacement. The persistent increase of new and protracted displacement contexts demands a rethink of currently applied predominantly short-term, humanitarian relief-focused responses to solutions and include a strong longer-term development perspective, placing national ownership, peace and prosperity, gender-responsiveness as well as “leave-no-one-behind” considerations at the centre of the solutions process.

The High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, commissioned by the UN Secretary-General in 2019, concluded that achieving solutions to internal displacement requires much earlier and more predictable engagement of development, peace, climate change and disaster management actors. Building on the HLP Report, the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement outlines 31 commitments for the UN system to advance solutions to internal displacement, prevent new displacement and ensure IDPs receive better protection and assistance. The HLP and the Action Agenda stress that “business as usual” is no longer acceptable.

UNDP therefore promotes development solutions to internal displacement, specifically in protracted displacement contexts, through advancing the broader legal, political, economic, social and environmental conditions that allow for nationally owned prevention, response and solutions to internal displacement. UNDP’s approach is guided by its overall mandate to support sustainable human development and integral to the organization’s efforts to address the challenges of the furthest left behind, reduce inequalities, including gender inequalities, realize a just and sustainable world, and achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The CB RSHM is seeking to recruit an International Consultant to be an overall lead of a joint UNDP and Joint Internal Displacement Profiling Service (JIPS) project on “Robust data and evidence on internal displacement: advancing approaches to measure progress towards solutions from a development perspective”. The 12-month project is funded by and implemented in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ). It builds on the five key pathways to development solutions outlined in UNDP’s report: Turning the tide on internal displacement: a development approach to solutions. It furthermore expands on experiences and tools developed by JIPS, including the Interagency Durable Solutions Indicator Library that operationalizes the IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs, as well as efforts in this area by BMZ.

The project combines dedicated research on how to measure progress towards solutions with a series of thematic multi-stakeholder expert working sessions. The aim is to identify which developmental policies (outputs) are instrumental to create an enabling environment for solutions to internal displacement and which output indicators are essential to measure progress towards the implementation of these policies. A broader methodology to track progress towards approaches to solutions from a development perspective will also be outlined complementing the current durable solutions framework and imbedding data on solutions to internal displacement into wider development data, including linked to SDG monitoring (outcome indicators). The final research paper will suggest a "dashboard of indicators" (both at output and outcome levels) that can be tested and rolled out in several pilot countries.

The consultant will act as the overall lead on the project and organize the series of thematic dialogues and research on how to advance measuring progress towards solutions from a development perspective. Under the supervision of the UNDP CB RSHM Policy Advisor – Forced Displacement, and in close collaboration with the overall Project Steering Committee that includes UNDP and JIPS, the International Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Task 1: Develop the overall project work-plan and inception report

• Based on the approved project proposal, develop a detailed project work plan against the three phases of the project.
• Produce an inception report (max 15 pages plus annexes) based on an overall desk review on existing internal displacement solutions indicators, including the Interagency Indicator Library on Durable Solutions, the International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS) and applicable development data frameworks (SDG global indicator framework, etc), and outline current strong points and gaps, and possible ways forward. The inception report should also identify overall key stakeholders to be engaged as part of the thematic expert series (such as Office of the Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, EGRISS, JDC, UNDESA, IDMC, OECD, OCHA, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN-Habitat, DRC, Save the Children, IMPACT Initiatives, etc.).

Task 2: Outcomes of the first expert workshop

• Contribute to the preparations for the first expert working group to review existing data processes (e.g., indicators, methodology and guidance) and identify gaps to measure progress towards solutions from a development approach).
• Help develop concept note and background materials, meeting agenda development, inclusive facilitation approach including key questions that can effectively guide/frame the thematic discussions and supporting key stakeholders’ engagement.
• Produce an outcome overview capturing key discussion points, including a preliminary review of existing data and indicators on solutions to internal displacement, and recommendations on the way forward.

Task 3: Preparation for a country and/or regional level virtual workshops

• Based on the outcomes of the expert meeting and further internal discussions between UNDP, JIPS and other key stakeholders, suggest some possible key solutions output and outcome level indicators and methodology for field testing.
• Produce an external concept note and background materials for planned country and/or regional level virtual workshops and coordinate the identification of country case study contexts and engagement with UN RCs, UNDP Country Offices and key stakeholders.
• Develop the agenda and facilitate up to three virtual workshops with RC/UNCT/Nexus and Solutions working groups, national authorities, etc.
• Produce an outcome overview capturing key discussion points and recommendations on the way forward, including ideas for possible pilot countries.

Task 4: External event and final paper

• Based on preceding consultations, develop a draft research paper (maximum 30 pages plus annexes) that synthesizes the current solutions indicators and methodologies and identifies output indicators and possible methodology to measure progress towards solutions from a development perspective and imbed data on solutions to internal displacement into wider development data including linked to SDG monitoring (outcome indicators).
• Facilitate internal discussions between UNDP and JIPS on draft research paper ahead of engaging with key stakeholders. Finalize a draft research paper including possible "dashboard of indicators" (both at output and outcome levels).
• Lead preparations for the final event with BMZ to present the research paper and engage with key stakeholders including member states, internal displacement and development communities.
• Following the final event, finalize for publication the research paper and an internal report that suggests key next steps for UNDP in 2024 to take forward the findings.

Competencies

• Solid working knowledge of UN 2030 Agenda and global policy developments related to Leave No One Behind, SDGs and forced displacement. Direct work experience on forced displacement, especially internal, will be an advantage.
• Working experience on data and development of indicators will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability on project management and ability to coordinate across different project stakeholders and external actors.
• Strong workshop facilitation and communication skills
• Excellent writing skills, especially the ability to write high-quality synthesis and research/policy reports.
• Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, and to deliver in a timely manner within cost and quality standards.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Good understanding of global socio-economic, political and development dynamics.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications: Master’s Degree in International Development, Economics, Social Sciences, or related areas, required.

Years of experience: A minimum of 10 years’ experience in international development for international/regional organizations or in academia covering a multi-sectoral context, with a minimum of 3 years working in forced displacement contexts.

Language: Fluency and working proficiency in both written and spoken English, and fluency and working proficiency in another UN language is an asset.