Partnerships between humanitarian and development actors are key to including refugees in social protection systems

GENEVA (ILO News) – To mark World Humanitarian Day, the ILO released Social protection and forced displacement - Lessons learned from a decade of ILO operations, a new brief that presents practical recommendations to promote the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons in national social protection systems.

The timing of the brief is especially crucial as the global humanitarian system is stretched to its limits. As such, the brief aims to help countries and humanitarian and development actors that support them to improve access to income security, healthcare and other essential services for forcibly displaced persons, while reducing fragmentation and supporting social cohesion.

It draws lessons from the last decades of ILO cooperation with humanitarian actors aimed at facilitating transitions from ad hoc humanitarian emergency response to rights-based social protection systems. The brief highlights how universal social protection and equality of treatment between nationals and non-nationals can help bridge humanitarian, peace, and development efforts.

Forced displacement is rising worldwide, driven by conflicts, violence, environmental disasters, and the climate crisis. This growing challenge calls for responses grounded in human rights and that ensure forcibly displaced persons have access to essential services and protections.

Social protection is a fundamental human right, anchored in the rights to social security and health, and it must be upheld for all, including refugees and displaced populations. Social health protection, in particular, offers a strong entry point for inclusion, because it is aligned with national public health priorities while also helping with broader integration into social protection systems.

Shahra Razavi, ILO Director for the Universal Social Protection Department

The brief emphasizes that a twin-track approach, or an approach that combines the strengthening of national systems with the operational inclusion of displaced persons is the most effective way forward, and one that would help to ensure that no one is left behind.

Partnerships between development and humanitarian actors are essential to make these inclusion strategies work. The ILO brings technical expertise and international standards, while humanitarian organizations provide direct reach and knowledge of displaced communities. The recent development of Common Principles thereof by a range of United Nations’ agencies is aligned with ILO’s lessons learned and contributes to framing these partnerships in the Humanitarian Peace Development Nexus.

Linking social protection with livelihood programmes is also critical because it would provide displaced persons with sustainable access to benefits while improving their employment opportunities, income and overall well-being. To ensure long-term impact, sustainable financing and stronger advocacy are needed, securing rights-based assistance for vulnerable groups and aligning domestic and international resources.

The ILO reaffirms its commitment to support countries expanding social protection coverage to displaced populations and their host communities, while moving towards universal systems.