ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment, Side Event on Delivering Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons: A Test Case for UN Development System Coherence and Reform
ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment – Side Event | 2 June 2026 | New York
The high-level discussion during the 2026 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment demonstrated how governments and the UN development system can work together to address internal displacement as a development and governance challenge. Sustainable solutions require strong government leadership, integration into national development planning, coordinated UN support and long-term financing.
Speakers: Ms. Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Crisis Bureau, UNDP; Ms. Helena Fraser, Director of Policy and Programme, UN Development Coordination Office (Moderator); H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Folorunsho Jimoh, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations; H.E. Mr. Domingos Estêvão Fernandes, Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations; H.E. Ms. Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations; Mr. George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Somalia; H.E. Mr. David Bakradze, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations; representatives of Azerbaijan and the European Union; Mr. Giovanni Basu, Deputy Director, UNHCR Office in New York; and Mr. Par Lijert, Director, IOM Office in New York.
Building on the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement (2022), governments are increasingly integrating displacement into national policies, development plans, public services and recovery efforts. Experiences shared by Nigeria, Mozambique, Ukraine and Georgia demonstrated that progress is possible when national institutions lead and international partners align behind government priorities.
Participants also highlighted internal displacement as a practical test case for UN reform and system-wide coherence. Stronger coordination under Resident Coordinator leadership, supported by mechanisms including the Global Solutions Hub on Internal Displacement, the Solutions Champions Group and the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund, is helping bring humanitarian, development, peace and climate expertise together.
The discussion underscored that the next priority is to move from promising practices to solutions at scale. This will require sustained political commitment, stronger data and evidence, area-based approaches, predictable and flexible multi-year financing, and deeper partnerships with international financial institutions.
The event reaffirmed that resolving internal displacement is both a national development priority and an opportunity to demonstrate how a more coherent UN system can deliver better results for people and countries facing complex challenges.
Organized by the United Nations Development Programme and Global Solutions Hub on Internal Displacement, sponsored by the Group of Friends on Solutions to Internal Displacement.