LocationsMoving Beyond Humanitarian Aid
Supporting Displaced Communities Towards Resilience and Recovery
June 2, 2025
Almaz is one of 200 female-led households displaced by a landslide who has received livelihood support.
In Ethiopia’s Afar region, groups of women who once relied on humanitarian aid are now running small businesses—some managing livestock, others selling tea or clothing. These women, formerly displaced by conflict, are quietly leading a wave of transformation.
Their stories are part of a broader national push to find long-term, sustainable solutions to internal displacement, a challenge affecting millions across the country.
According to the 2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement, Ethiopia’s IDPs were mostly driven from their homes by conflict and violence, followed closely by weather-related disasters such as floods and droughts.
In Geze Gofa, Southern Ethiopia, a transition from humanitarian to recovery support has led to support for 200 female-led households displaced by a landslide.
In Geze Gofa, Southern Ethiopia, a transition from humanitarian to recovery support has led to support for 200 female-led households displaced by a landslide. “People had to dig us out”, Almaz Adala, 38, recalls with a heavy heart the day she lost her two teenage children in the landslide.
Askal Bolado (80) lost her daughter and her infant grandchild.
UNDP partnered with the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission to support women like Almaz and Askal with livelihood packages that included livestock and startup grants to help them get back on their feet and become resilient. UNDP’s support complemented other initiatives in the area that helped communities rebuild homes and schools.
Renewed commitment and strengthened partnership
Until recently, responses to displacement in Ethiopia were dominated by short-term humanitarian aid. In November 2024, the government launched a National Strategy to Implement Solutions Pathways to Internal Displacement, developed with the support of UNDP, UNHCR, IOM on behalf of other UN agencies and development partners.
The plan integrates displacement into broader peacebuilding and development strategies, focusing on livelihoods, housing, land access, and social cohesion. As a pilot country of the UN Secretary General's Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, this Strategy was developed by the Ethiopian government in collaboration with the United Nations, national and international non-governmental organisations, and consultations with affected communities. UNDP is the solutions champion for the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund, which strategically helps the UN Country Teams on work addressing internal displacement aligned with the SDGs and national priorities.
The strategy also aligns with international frameworks, such as the African Union's Kampala Convention, which calls for state responsibility in protecting and supporting IDPs.
Local Solutions in Climate and Conflict Affected Regions
A Joint Programme led by UNDP, IOM, UNHCR, and UN-Habitat is helping the government target thousands of IDP returnees in regions heavily affected by conflict—Afar, Amhara, Somali, and Tigray.
In Afar alone, 75 women received grants and business training. Some opened cafés or small retail stalls. Others received goats—384 in total—to launch livestock businesses. In Tigray, new cooperatives were formed in areas like Tahitay-Adiabo, focused on poultry and food processing. More than 1,100 women across the regions have been directly supported with funding and training needed to sustain long-term economic activity.
Through a cash-for-work modality, IDPs and host communities are coming together to decide on priority labor-intensive projects. According to the latest figures, 18 new cooperatives have also been established (with 15 members each) and received startup capital, business skills training, and have been supported to establish market linkages.
The programme’s integration with existing programmes ensures that economic recovery contributes to broader peacebuilding.
Navigating Barriers and Building Capacity
Despite progress, challenges remain. Conflict-related insecurity in Amhara and Tigray has disrupted implementation. Institutional capacity at the local level is often weak, and a lack of centralised, accurate IDP data continues to limit planning and monitoring.
The GRID report confirms that globally, one of the biggest gaps in addressing displacement is the lack of solid data. The joint programme has invested in training government staff and supporting coordination through federal and regional Durable Solutions Working Groups. Regional governments are now taking more ownership of solutions, developing sub-national strategies and costed action plans with UN support.
Durable Solutions That Can Scale
The 2025 GRID notes that while more countries are developing policies on internal displacement, very few have operationalized solutions at scale. Ethiopia’s model—combining strong local ownership, economic empowerment, and policy reform—offers one of the most promising examples on the continent.
The country’s next challenge is ensuring solutions are embedded in national development planning.
UNDP and its partners are already working with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Development to link displacement responses with long-term budgets and strategies.
The Ethiopian experience shows that recovery isn't just about returning people home—it's about creating the conditions for them to stay, thrive, and rebuild.
Context at a Glance: Internal Displacement in Ethiopia (Source: 2025 Global Displacement Report)
New displacements in 2024: 1.2 million (conflict) and 780,000 (disasters)
Top drivers: Conflict, drought, flooding
Top regions affected: Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Somali
UNDP’s work on durable solutions for IDP returnees is supported through resources from Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea through the Funding Windows, as well as from the Multi Partner Trust Fund with resources contributed by Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to facilitate the UN SG’s IDSF working in ten countries.
Related
content
content
