IDP Action believes that there are three fundamental steps that governments in Africa and beyond need to take:

Recognise the specific vulnerabilities of IDPs in all humanitarian and development interventions

• African governments should prioritize the needs of the displaced in development programs such as Millennium Development Goal country action plans;

• Donor governments should make IDPs a focus of development support to African states.

Strengthen the legal framework for the protection of IDPs

• the African Union should take a lead in developing and applying effective solutions at national and regional level for the better protection of the rights of IDPs.

• African governments should incorporate the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement into national law.

Develop policy responses to situations of armed conflict that are centred on the needs of IDPs

• clear criteria for humanitarian intervention that are based on the plight of civilians should be developed;

• humanitarian interventions should be given strong civilian protection mandates and proportionate resources.

IDP Action seeks to achieve these goals by

• Conducting and commissioning research that highlights the specific needs of IDP populations in Africa;

• Working in partnership with African and international NGOs to lobby governments, the African Union and the United Nations;

• Mobilizing public and media attention in support of our positions.