SPaN Podcast: How to harness social protection for forcibly displaced people? // Andrew Mitchell (UNHCR)

Managing the challenges of forced displacement requires an evidence-based understanding on how to strengthen the links between humanitarian aid and longer term development programming through the interface of social protection systems. In September last year, the International Conference on Social Protection in Contexts of Fragility and Forced Displacement, hosted by the European Commission, United Nations agencies and EC Member States governments, focused on sharing innovative and practical solutions to meet the needs of millions of people caught up in humanitarian crises around the world.

About a year after the conference, we continue our thematic discussions facilitated by SPaN. Listen to an interview with UNHCR Senior Solutions Officer Andrew Mitchell: 

If you wish to obtain more in-depth information in his 5-pages reading titled: “Harnessing social protection for forcibly displaced people – conceptual overview”. The text summarizes the key areas required to manage the challenges of forced displacement: 1) a better transition from humanitarian operations to longer-term actions through joint government and international actor initiatives; and 2) better preparedness and contingency planning built into national systems that more effectively prepare for and respond to multiple waves of displacement.

These areas consequently require operational support to be adapted according to three key factors: i) the displacement context; ii) the maturity and coverage of the national social protection system; and iii) the legal framework and application of government policies.

With this in mind, could you share any experience illustrating progressively transition building autonomy and self-reliance of forcibly displaced people contributing to national systems and the local economy?

What lessons can we learn from this experience (or any other you can think of) that would have implications on how harnessing social protection for forcibly displaced people has been conceptualized? 

How can the work of the European Commission be more responsive to the three operational key factors appointed by this UNHCR conceptual overview?