Plan International’s programming focuses on both refugees and internally displaced people. We balance our work with local host communities, so that they themselves can also benefit and ensure our work is sensitive to local realities.

Every day last year on average 42,500 people became refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced. (UNHCR)

In particular, the dynamics of conflicts are complex and diverse. Wars, conflict and persecution have forced more people to flee their homes and seek refuge within their countries and across borders. Refugee and internally displaced children and young people (especially unaccompanied or separated children and adolescent girls) are at greater risk than adults of abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation, malnutrition and diseases. At the same time, education may be disrupted and family and other social support networks may be weakened.

UNHCR’s annual global trends report: World at War indicates that the number of people forcibly displaced at the end of 2014 had risen to 59.5 million compared to 51.2 million the year earlier, and 37.5 million a decade ago. Evidence shows half of refugees are children. The increase represents the biggest leap ever seen in a single year. Moreover, the report said the situation is likely to get worse.

Our approach

• Emphasis on adolescent girls and excluded and vulnerable children (such as children with disabilities).
• Integrated education, child protection, psychosocial, health, nutrition and cash transfer programming to address children’s needs in a holistic way. 
• Our programming on refugees and internally displaced people integrates core humanitarian needs, including food, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene

Girl uses water dispenser provided by Plan International at a school in an IDP camp, Myanmar © Plan International / Kaung Htet

• Formal education for children aged 5-18 years through the establishment of temporary learning spaces, provision of teaching and learning materials, and strengthening the capacity of teachers, ministry of education and parents/community.
• Non-formal education for adolescents, youth, out-of-school, drop-out children and young people (10-24 years) through the use of accelerated learning, bridging/catch up programmes, modular/flexible learning and mobile approaches.
• Early learning/pre-school education for children (0-5 years) through formal pre-schools/kindergartens, non-formal learning through mobile or community based approaches and strengthening capacity and education of parents.

Internally displaced children learning and preparing their exams in a class supported by Plan International, Mali

• Strengthening community-based and national child protection systems to prevent and respond to violence against children, as well as support reintegration of child survivors of violence.
• Providing access to quality services and appropriate response interventions to children who have experienced abuse, violence and exploitation.
• Strengthening psychosocial well-being of children affected by emergencies and their families.
• Prioritising child protection in all humanitarian action to ensure children are not exposed to programmes designed without proper consideration of children’s safety or well‑being.

Children from Central Africa Republic in front of a temporary learning space built in a refugee camp, Cameroon

Plan International has an interest in other programmatic areas, including child labour and civil registration. Plan International undertook a review of good practice in several agencies (including Plan International, UNHCR and UNICEF) on birth registration in emergencies, including refugee situations, and produced guidance for birth registration in emergencies. 

Syrian refugee carries her baby © Plan International / Jodi Hilton