A tale of two cities - IDPs plan for their durable solutions in Darfur

Abstract

In 2017, the Government of Sudan, encouraged by the United Nations, indicated its interest in pursuing durable solutions for the roughly two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country. Since then, Government interest has waned but international aid agencies, civil society, and the forcibly displaced themselves have become increasingly involved, focusing their efforts in Darfur where the country's IDPs and returning refugees predominate. This article describes the efforts made by IDPs and returning refugees to plan their own solutions in two settings: rural villages in Central Darfur and camp-based IDPs in urban El Fasher, North Darfur. It shows the dynamics of the people involved and how these have an important impact on the pathways to durable solutions. The experience in Darfur also illustrates how influential individuals can block pathways and suggests what can be done to redress the situation.