Community Development

Building support in displaced communities means fostering mental health, trust, dialogue, collaboration, and empowerment. Through creative activities like clay-making, participants find strength in shared moments! IOM is helping to build these connections with mental health services supporting communities affected by displacement.

Macambira Association Fostering Social Cohesion and Promoting Peace

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mozambique has implemented the Clube da Paz (Peace Club) initiative as part of its efforts to promote peace and social cohesion in conflict-affected areas. These Peace Clubs bring together diverse community members, including youth, women, and local leaders, to engage in dialogue, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding activities. Cabo Delgado, once renowned for its crystal-clear beaches and palm-lined landscapes, underwent a harsh transformation in 2017 when armed conflict erupted. Since then, over 700,000 people have been displaced (IOM DTM, 2024), with countless families losing their homes, access to food, and means of livelihood. The conflict has torn apart the social fabric of communities, deeply impacting community social cohesion, their well-being. Participants in the Clube da Paz learn valuable skills in mediation, non-violent communication, and community problem-solving. The clubs serve as safe spaces for discussing sensitive issues and fostering understanding between different groups within the community. Through regular meetings, workshops, and community projects, the Clube da Paz initiative aims to build resilience against extremism, reduce inter-community tensions, and empower local residents to become active agents of peace in their neighborhoods. This grassroots approach has shown promising results in strengthening social fabric and promoting sustainable peace in areas affected by conflict and displacement i

IOM Mozambique's Legal Identity program works to ensure that vulnerable populations, including displaced persons and host communities, have access to essential identification documents. Through collaboration with the Mozambican government and local partners, the program aims to improve access to legal identity services, reduce the risks associated with statelessness, and promote social inclusion. By providing documentation like birth certificates and national IDs, the program supports individuals' rights to basic services, economic opportunities, and legal protections, fostering long-term resilience and community integration.

Diverse MHPSS activities including art, games, dance, and livelihood activities such as sewing. These various initiatives promote healing, social cohesion, inclusion, and women empowerment in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. IOM 2023 / Amanda Nero

As climate change intensifies, competition over dwindling natural resources in Northwestern Nigeria, Katsina State has seen conflicts that often result in displacement and loss of life. In response, IOM is empowering communities to prevent and resolve disputes before they escalate. Through the Community Response Network (CRN) and transhumance tracking tools like the Early Warning and Early Response System, IOM is strengthening local capacity for peacebuilding and providing vital support to displaced persons in the region.

In Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, the rise in banditry and insecurity has caused widespread displacement of individuals and households. As part of its peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing essential mental health and psychosocial support to conflict-affected communities, focusing on survivors of kidnappings and other traumatic events.

In Mainé-Soroa, the arrival of internally displaced persons fleeing attacks perpetrated by non-state armed groups has affected the education sector. The primary school's reception capacity was limited, and the facility was obsolete, offering an environment to children from local communities that was not conducive to learning. In 2022, the Niger Community Cohesion Initiative (NCCI) programme renovated and equipped the primary school to improve conditions for learning and reduce the dropout rate. Ramatou, the principal of a primary school in Mainé-Soroa, a commune from the Diffa region at the heart of the Lake Chad Basin region and at the border with Nigeria, recalls what it was like before when classes were held under tents which amplified the high-temperature conditions without water and protective fencing a year before, a contrast to what it is today. Now the school boasts of six classrooms built with permanent materials, a shop, a kitchen, a borehole, four streetlights, an electricity meter, and four fire extinguishers. The school can now decently host 913 students, 475 of which are girls, many of them displaced and the refugee communities. The impact of the rehabilitation of school premises is evident on students' grades and performance, and girls' retention rate with the number of dropouts decreased.

Beneficiaries receiving seed capital for their entrepreneurship.

It is essential to disseminate that the immigration status of parents should not be an impediment to process the birth certificate and grant the right to identity to their children. An IOM team accompanied in August 2022 a session to issue birth certificates to children of migrant workers in the Soconusco region of southern Mexico, Mexico. Tthe story of a midwife who encourages families to obtain birth certificates for their daughters and sons in Tapachula, Chiapas.

Photos of by IOM Georgia taken during different activities in previous years.

A compilation of visibility products for IOM's 70th Anniversary. For queries, contact avteam@iom.int

Different UN agencies working in Marka Town, Lower Shabelle Region of Somalia conducted a joint visit on June 2021 to Marka hospital, a local NGO supported by the UN, Nuurto Taliyo IDP camp, and other locations. Marka Town of Marka District was recovered from Al Shabaab (extremist group) in March 2017. Certain areas of Marka District are still under Al Shabaab control and are slowly being recovered with the government and AMISOM support. IOM continues to provide community stabilization support to Marka Town and especially newly liberated locations in Marka district and other locations within Lower Shabelle Region.

Documentation of IOM programmatic works in Nigeria in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. (Please find more information in the individual photos and videos)

The Central-East region is the most affected community by irregular migration in Burkina Faso. In 2018, 56 per cent of migrants assisted to voluntary return to Burkina Faso by IOM came from this region. As part of its awareness raising activities, IOM trained 25 community actors from the Central-Eastern Region of Burkina Faso trained by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in community mobilization techniques. The goal is to empower these voices to effectively raise awareness among young people about the dangers of irregular migration. Migration of young “able-bodies” from the region is more often due to a precarious economic situation, plus social and cultural motivations. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt participatory approach to raising awareness. Community mobilization responds to this need by enabling community members to take ownership of the theme, and by building their capacities to organizing community dialogue sessions to change attitudes and behaviours.

Returned migrants participate in a cash-for-work activity in Garango, in Eastern Burkina Faso. When migrants return home, they often lack money to care for their basic needs. IOM organizes cash-for-work activities as a first step towards the sustainable reintegration of migrants. These activities contribute to strengthening social cohesion between returned migrants and community members, while offering returned migrants the financial boost they need to restart their lives.

In Burkina Faso, The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Burkina Faso, and with funding from the European Union, is supporting the establishment of livestock farmer groups in Burkina Faso. In Centre-East and Centre-South of Burkina Faso, the two main regions of origin for migrants leaving this country, IOM has provided about 500 sheep, rams, oxen and donkeys to 99 Burkinabè who returned from Libya and Algeria in 2018 to ensure their socio-economic reintegration in the country. To support their sustainable reintegration, the returnees received – in addition to this in-kind assistance – training in business management, cooperative operation and livestock farming techniques. The training sessions, provided throughout the year by the technical partners of the National Employment Agency (ANPE) and the Regional Directorates of Animal and Fisheries Resources, have enabled them to acquire the necessary skills to ensure the sustainability of their activities. In 2018, 1249 Burkinabé migrants received reintegration assistance under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. Funded by the European Union, this project aims to contribute to the strengthening of migration governance, protection, assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.

On 23 March 2019, a joint monitoring mission led by the Ministry of Interior of Jubaland State Government with participants from various line ministries and MOIFAR was conducted in Kismayo to monitor three Midnimo projects (2 schools and 1 market shed). The monitoring team first visited Gulwade Primary and Secondary School where five latrines as well as three rooms were constructed in December 2017 used as common facility: an examiner›s room, kitchen, and storage. The team also visited Aqoon Bile Primary School, which was constructed in February 2018 and opened in March 2018. Prior to the construction of this school, Aqoon School had two campuses in different locations. One was right outside the school which was comprised of two structures made of wooden poles and sticks, and a teacher’s office made of corrugated iron. This campus was built on private land and students indicated that they felt that this campus was Previous Aqoon Bile Primary and Secondary School © IOM 2019/Rikka TUPAZ Newly constructed Aqoon Bile Primary and Secondary School © IOM 2019/Rikka TUPAZ temporary and not secure. The other school was located near the coast. Students indicated that they are now very happy in the newly constructed school, which is a permanent structure on land allocated by the Jubaland Government. Within a year of its opening, school attendance rose from 295 (113 girls, 182 boys) to 641 students (197 girls, 444 boys). This increase is primarily due to returns from Dadaab refugee camp

Due to a major drought in 2017 in Mauritania, people in the Hodh El Chargui region are receiving a humanitarian assistance.

IOM Global Solar Lantern Initiative

Stories and Dreams of Conflict-displaced Children

Half of the displaced Iraqis at Haj and Qayara emergency sites are under the age of 17. They did not have enough recreational spaces to release stress and frustration caused by displacement. Thanks to our US-based partner, IOM Iraq was able to construct playgrounds at both sites that include football and volleyball pitches. At the inauguration on 10 September 2017, little girls played obstacle races while boys played football.

Refugees under IOM care in Indonesia who've completed a vocational training program provide free haircuts to street children and residents of their host community.

Vulnerable members of three host communities,namely Itang, Bonga and Jewi, in Gambella Region were provided with transitional shelter and livelihood assistance.

The military crisis may be over in Mosul city, but the humanitarian calamity continues. To help people return, the city needs tremendous humanitarian assistance. Massive destruction meets the eye across West Mosul

Since 1991, over a quarter million undocumented migrants have arrived in Bangladesh from the northern Rakhine state of Myanmar. Approximately 32,000 of these migrants are officially registered as Myanmar Refugees living in the two government-recognized camps in Kutupalong village of Ukhiya Upazila and Nayapara village of Teknaf Upazila in Bangladesh's south-eastern district of Cox's Bazar. Over 60,000 are undocumented, not registered as refugees, and officially known as Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMNs). They live in makeshift settlements around the same areas. The vast majority of UMNs live amongst the Bangladeshi population throughout Cox's Bazar and the surrounding districts. IOM and its partners have programs targeting UMNs and the poorest segments of local communities near the makeshift settlements.

A collection of portraits of migrants from everywhere IOM works to help make migration humane.

Starting from March 2016 migrants and local community members in the Nigerien town of Agadez have been trained how to make bricks using only plastic and sand. OIM Niger and the Italian NGO Terre Solidali are behind this innovative and eco-friendly training project. The Italian NGO, based in Niamey, has a solid experience in this EU-Certified technique and has provided an excellent training to the participants. The produced bricks will be then used to offer a paving service in the town of Agadez. The training has been received with optimism by local authorities and stakeholders. The principal objectives are to encourage community development project, provide alternatives to irregular migration and offer professional training to the youth while helping the planet.

Following a request by the Ministry of Livestock, IOM conducted a commercial destocking exercise on 1 October 2011 in the Kulan host community, Lagdera District. IOM purchased 500 emaciated goats and sheep from host community families. The proceeds from the sales will meet their immediate, life-saving needs and the meat will be used to supplement their diets.

IOM works with the government of Sri Lanka and with international governments to help restore stability to the country after 30 years of conflict. The strongest needs are in the North and East of the country, which also suffered most in the tsunami of December 2004. IOM works with communities to provide livelihood support – simply put, getting people back to work so they can feed, clothe and educate their families. Many thousands of Sri Lankans, particularly in the Tamil north, have been displaced several times by conflict. In fact the world’s largest camp for internally displaced people, at Menik Farm, near Vavuniya, closed just last year. Hundreds of thousands of people have returned to their former homes, to a shattered economy and a climate of uncertainty. Against that backdrop IOM runs livelihood, infrastructure and shelter programmes. “It is hugely important for us to continue to fund community development programmes across the island,” stresses Richard Danziger, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka from 2010 to 2013. “Jobs and a sense of self-worth prevent tensions from spilling over. More than that, they keep communities together and prevent the exploitation of would-be migrants. And migrants or failed asylum seekers who are unsuccessful in remaining overseas need to know that there is a chance for them to have another shot at making it work back at home.”