IOM and the Platform on Disaster Displacement

On 9 December 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), represented by the Government of France and the Government of Fiji, as respective Chair 2019-2020 and incoming Chair 2021-2022 of the PDD. This MoU reinforces the partnership and collaboration between IOM and PDD at the global, regional and national levels, in order to support States and other stakeholders in addressing the challenges of human mobility in the context of disasters, environmental degradation and climate change. 

IOM provided active support to the Nansen Initiative from 2012 to 2015, as a Standing Invitee of the Nansen Initiative Steering Group and a member of its Consultative Committee, including by contributing to the preparation of the Nansen Initiative's Regional consultations and background papers. 

Since the establishment of the Platform on Disaster Displacement in July 2016 as a follow up to the Nansen Initiative, IOM supports directly the implementation of the Platform's Strategic Framework and Workplan in close collaboration with the Platform's Secretariat.

IOM is, together with the UNHCR, a Standing Invitee to the Platform’s Steering Group, and plays a key role in supporting States’ efforts to implement the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda and the priorities identified by the Platform’s Steering Group, which are directly in line with IOM’s vision and action on addressing displacement and human mobility associated with natural disasters and climate change. 

IOM has been addressing the migration, environment and climate change (MECC) nexus since the 1990s contributing on all fronts, research, capacity building, policy, and operational response, including providing assistance and protection to persons displaced due to natural hazards and to the adverse effects of climate change. This work is supported by IOM dedicated thematic specialists in Geneva as well as in regional and national offices, including a specialized Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Division, which is the focal point for PDD.

IOM’s work on environmental migration builds on institutional expertise in areas such as migration research, international migration law, displacement tracking and camp management in disaster situations, disaster risk reduction, transition and recovery, immigration and border management, labour migration and development. 

As a key partner of the PDD, IOM takes the lead on several areas of the PDD 2019-2022 Workplan, including on: capacity building of policymakers, collecting and analysing data in disaster situations, conducting research on new areas, and supporting policy development at global and regional levels. Dedicated IOM MECC specialists focus specifically on implementing the PDD Workplan and mainstreaming this work into broader IOM programmes and operations to ensure that the needs of people displaced in the context of disasters and climate change, whether internally or across borders, are addressed.