UN report reveals USD 2.5 billion mobilized for internal displacement solutions

The Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) has helped unlock approximately USD 2.5 billion in national budget allocations to protect and support internally displaced people, according to a new press release issued in Geneva on 6 July 2026. Established by the United Nations Global Solutions Hub, the Fund is championed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The report shows that government-led commitments are advancing solutions to internal displacement and translating into tangible results. In 2025, the Fund supported 10 joint programmes with catalytic investments of up to USD 3 million each. These efforts also mobilized more than USD 850 million in development finance.

The IDSF is a joint UN financing mechanism supporting government-led efforts by investing in systems, policies, and partnerships that unlock larger-scale development financing. It is designed to bridge the gap between humanitarian response and long-term development approaches. The IDSF serves as the financing instrument of the UN Global Solutions Hub on Internal Displacement. The Hub was established through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement (2022) and the subsequent IASC/UNSDG Guidance on Solutions to Internal Displacement (2025). It sets a common direction for supporting government-led solutions through stronger national ownership and integrated UN support.

Programmes supported by the Fund have helped allocate nearly 98,000 hectares of land for housing, livelihoods, and local integration. They have also enabled more than 200,000 displaced people to obtain legal documentation, improving access to services, employment, and public support. The Fund demonstrates strong leverage, mobilizing an estimated USD 168 from development actors for every USD 1 invested. According to the report, targeted investments are strengthening public systems and expanding access to housing, land, livelihoods, and basic services for both displaced people and host communities. Over 10 million internally displaced people returned home in 2025 – the highest level in years.

“The evidence is clear: when we invest in systems that help people rebuild their lives, displacement becomes more manageable and communities grow stronger,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. Shoko Noda, UNDP Crisis Bureau Director, noted that internal displacement is not only a humanitarian challenge but also a development and governance priority. She added that the IDSF is helping governments embed solutions into national plans and unlock much larger sources of financing. Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, emphasized that many returns remain fragile, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in national systems. He called for lasting and dignified solutions to end the cycle of displacement.

Despite this progress, the report notes that results remain uneven across countries. Many nations continue to face new or ongoing displacement, insecurity, and limited resources. While policy frameworks and coordination mechanisms are improving, stable and predictable financing is still lacking. Looking ahead, the report calls for stronger alignment between development financing and national strategies, along with deeper engagement with international financial institutions and the private sector. It also urges more inclusive approaches that ensure displaced people are involved in decisions that affect them.