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IOM provides life-saving aid and protection to vulnerable populations, including migrants and displaced persons. In collaboration with local and national partners, IOM’s work covers camp coordination and camp management; the provision of shelter; water, sanitation and hygiene services; and cash assistance. The support provided by IOM is evidence-based and community-focused, prioritizing dignity, safety and human rights.
IOM plays a critical role in addressing the mobility dimensions of crises, providing life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable populations affected by sudden and protracted emergencies. It delivers vital assistance to millions while promoting safety, dignity and resilience in times of crisis. This work contributes to upholding the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
During crises, IOM works closely with affected communities and national and local authorities, as well as international, national and local partners, to deliver essential assistance to those most in need. Beneficiaries include internally displaced persons, migrants, refugees and host communities.
From the onset of a crisis, IOM ensures the centrality of protection, prioritizing safety and dignity while offering a comprehensive range of life-saving interventions. These include health services, protection, mental health and psychosocial support, multipurpose cash assistance and emergency evacuations. IOM ensures a conflict-sensitive approach in all its interventions.
IOM is a leading provider of population mobility data with expertise in beneficiary registration and in conducting needs assessments that support evidence-based humanitarian responses. IOM’s humanitarian border management activities include supporting governments to establish adequate response mechanisms to protect crisis-affected populations crossing international borders. These activities also enable the safe and voluntary evacuation of migrants from crisis-affected areas to their home countries.
The Organization plays a significant role in Inter-Agency Standing Committee humanitarian coordination structures at global, national and subnational level. At the global level, IOM co-leads the Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster. At the country level, IOM leads several coordination structures across various areas of work.
Localization is central to IOM’s approach to crises. The Organization prioritizes local ownership and community involvement in all aspects of its response, ensuring that those affected by crises have a voice in the decisions that shape their recovery.
Migration crisis operational framework
The IOM Migration Crisis Operational Framework was developed to highlight the migration dimensions of crises, which are frequently overlooked in crisis response. These include:
(a) The patterns of human mobility before, during and after a crisis.
(b) The various consequences of these patterns, including:
humanitarian consequences (e.g. in terms of food security and shelter);
migration management consequences (e.g. the large-scale transport of populations to a safe haven);
peace and development consequences.
(c) The implications of these consequences for rapid, inclusive, predictable and accountable responses for the affected population.
(d) The needs of vulnerable mobile populations not adequately covered by existing mechanisms, particularly international migrants caught in crises in countries of destination or transit.
Principles for humanitarian action
In line with the Charter of the United Nations and in the spirit of the humanitarian imperative, IOM’s humanitarian policy – Principles for Humanitarian Action – reaffirms its commitment to respect and abide by the four core humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
The policy contains a clear commitment to humanitarian partnership, accountability and protection.
Accountability to affected populations
Accountability to affected populations is a commitment to including programme beneficiaries and other community members in decision-making processes, promoting the participation and leadership of local stakeholders, and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse. Learn More.
The Accountability to Affected Populations Framework outlines IOM’s commitments to affected populations. The Framework guides high quality and responsive programming in line with the evolving needs of affected populations and reinforces the principle of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and other misconduct.
Localization Framework
IOM is committed to advancing localization by increasing support and funding transfers to local and national actors. This commitment is embedded in IOM’s Strategic Plan 2024-28, institutional Grand Bargain commitments, and as a key approach in the Migration Crisis Operational Framework. Strengthening localization, with greater participation and leadership from governments and local actors, enables IOM to share its expertise in delivering life-saving and recovery-focused responses.
