Global IDP Advisory Group
Global IDP Advisory Group
The group advised the Office of Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement throughout his mandate. It will continue its work advising UN agencies and bodies, including the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights of internally displaced persons and the UN Solutions Hub, as well as other global actors, including the IDP Protection Expert Group (IPEG).
The group consists of members from Colombia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nigeria, Uganda, Ukraine, South Sudan, and Yemen with various areas of expertise, including youth leaders, humanitarian, development and human rights professionals, LGBTIQ+ advocates and women peacebuilders.
Background
The IDP Advisory Group was formed in 2024 to advise the Office of Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement on meaningful IDP participation and promote inclusion in decision-making. This group supported the Special Advisor's work until his mandate ended in December 2024. Based on the engagements during this time and their own experiences, the group formulated recommendations for addressing internal displacement including enhancing IDP participation.
As of January 2025, UNHCR provides secretariat support to the Advisory Group. UNHCR will support the group's contributions to the work of the UN Solutions Hub and other global processes and initiatives related to the prevention, protection and solutions for internally displaced people.
Participation of internally displaced persons: perspectives from IDP leaders
Objectives
The IDP Advisory Group acts as a bridge between local IDP-led initiatives and international decision-makers and aims to:
1. Influence global processes on prevention, protection and solutions to internal displacement;
2. Share good examples and proposals on IDP participation at all levels of decision-making to promote IDP ownership and trust and more effective protection and solutions;
3. Foster connections with IDP groups globally to enable knowledge sharing and unified advocacy efforts;
4. Propose ways to increase resources for IDP organizations and communities as well as their participation, representation and leadership in decision-making processes that affect them.
Events and dialogues
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JANUARY 2026
Final meeting of the Global IDP Advisory Group (2024-2025)
On 15 January, the IDP Advisory Group held its final meeting before transitioning to a newly elected group, which will continue this work in 2026-2027. Lessons learned and recommendations were discussed with the DIPS Director and Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs. IDP leaders emphasized the importance of sharing their personal journeys and perspectives at global events, being “on the inside” of global processes, engaging and mobilizing at the country level, and accessing opportunities for networking and professional development.
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DECEMBER 2025
GRF Progress Review
In December 2025, the IDP Unit supported the Global IDP Advisory Group in highlighting its 2024–2025 achievements at the GRF Progress Review. Four IDP leaders highlighted structural obstacles and opportunities for strengthening IDP participation in global policy processes.
Workshop participants.
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DECEMBER 2024
Workshop on strengthening the participation of internally displaced persons
The Global IDP Advisory Group co-developed and participated in this two-day multi-stakeholder workshop co-hosted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs, the IPEG, UNHCR and McGill University. In total, 40 participants from IPEG, UN agencies, academia and NGOs shared their experiences and recommendations regarding IDP participation in the response and solutions for their displacement.
