Member and Partner Activities

Disaster risk reduction programming: IOM has been engaging in research, policy and advocacy efforts, capacity building and operational activities in the area of migration, environment and climate change and disaster risk reduction since the 1990s, seeking to bring migration in the context of climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters at the heart of international, regional and national concerns. Collaboration with its Member States, observers and partners has been instrumental in this regard.
Since 2007, Member States have requested IOM to report on its work on migration, environment and climate change within its governing bodies, including at its Council, the Standing Committee on Programmes and Finances and the International Dialogue on Migration. In 2014, Member States requested IOM to scale up action on migration, environment and climate change, which led to the establishment of the Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) Division in 2015. This institutional change formalized IOM’s engagement in this thematic area, making IOM the first international organization to have established an institutional structure fully devoted to this topic.
Disaster risk reduction components, including resilience-building, hazard prevention and mitigation, community-based preparedness and institutional capacity-building have been integral to IOM’s work on displacement and migration for almost 20 years – at least since the recovery period following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the portfolio has diversified and expanded, spanning hundreds of interventions in all regions. Since 2021, IOM’s MECC and DRR programming are located within the same division, bringing together more than 30 years of experience on MECC and DRR work.
IOM’s extensive field presence (23,000 staff globally across more than 590 offices in 174 countries), and mandate to work across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus enables the Organization to link its work in disaster contexts with sustainable development, resilience-building and climate action. IOM has dedicated MECC and DRR thematic specialists based in its headquarters, regional and country offices that provide technical and analytical support for programmes at local, national, regional and global levels. IOM’s MECC and DRR work is supported by strong relationships fostered at the community level. Communities’ unique contexts, perspectives and needs are identified and factored into programming by ensuring inclusive participation and local-level engagement.