Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internal-displacement-conflict-and-protection

Introduction

**Course Review and Recommendation: Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection** In an era marked by increased conflicts and humanitarian crises, understanding the complexities of internal displacement has never been more critical. The Coursera course titled **"Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection"** thoughtfully addresses this pressing humanitarian and development challenge through a comprehensive curriculum designed for anyone interested in humanitarian work, social justice, or global development. ### Overview This course explores the phenomenon of internal displacement, focusing on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their experiences. Participants will gain valuable insights into the origins of displacement, the global protection frameworks in place for IDPs, and potential solutions that could improve their living conditions. The structure of the course encourages active engagement, making it an immersive learning experience. ### Syllabus Breakdown The course spans six weeks, each dedicated to essential themes related to internal displacement: 1. **Course Introduction**: Sets the stage for learning, outlining the objectives and expected competencies. The introduction video and key information document provide a clear roadmap for what lies ahead. 2. **Week 1 - Internal Displacement: Scale, Causes, and Effects**: Participants will delve into global statistics on internal displacement, understanding the magnitude of the issue and identifying key drivers contributing to this phenomenon. This foundational knowledge is crucial for grasping the complex dynamics at play. 3. **Week 2 - The Emergence of IDP Law, Policy, and Institutions**: This week focuses on the evolution of legal frameworks and institutional responses to IDPs since the 1990s. Understanding these systems, along with the various actors involved at multiple levels, equips learners with knowledge about the protective measures established for IDPs globally. 4. **Week 3 - IDP Protection in Practice**: Bridging theory and reality, this module examines how IDP protection unfolds in conflict scenarios. Participants explore both the practical challenges of implementing protection measures and the resourcefulness displayed by IDP communities in creating their own self-protective measures. 5. **Week 4 - Displacement Solutions and Development**: This session discusses the concept of "durable solutions," where IDPs regain control over their lives. The interconnection between humanitarian actions and long-term development processes is emphasized, particularly in urban settings where IDPs are increasingly resettling. 6. **Week 5 - IDPs in Social Context**: Here, the importance of identity and social status is highlighted, particularly how these factors influence the experiences of displacement. A nuanced discussion about the varying impacts of gender and social markers offers a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of internal displacement. 7. **Week 6 - Internal Displacement as Lived Experience**: The concluding week centers on the personal narratives of IDPs. It examines how these stories are leveraged for advocacy and creative expression, spotlighting the human aspect of displacement and encouraging students to consider the broader societal implications. ### Recommendations I highly recommend this course for a variety of reasons: - **Comprehensive and Thought-Provoking**: Each week builds upon the last, providing a thorough understanding of internal displacement, making it suitable for both beginners and those with prior knowledge. - **Engaging Learning Methods**: The course employs a mix of lectures, readings, and practical case studies, ensuring an engaging learning environment. The emphasis on personal narratives powerfully illustrates the realities faced by IDPs. - **Global Perspective with Local Relevance**: While the course offers a global lens, it also encourages participants to reflect on local contexts, making the learning applicable in various real-world situations. - **Expert Instruction**: The course is facilitated by knowledgeable instructors who bring years of expertise in humanitarian work and displacement issues, ensuring that students receive quality education. - **Community of Learners**: As part of the Coursera platform, participants will join a diverse community, facilitating discussions and networking with interested peers, fostering collaborative learning. In conclusion, **"Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection"** is an essential course for anyone looking to make a difference in the field of humanitarian aid or simply wanting to understand the intricate landscape of internal displacement. Its rich content, robust curriculum, and supportive environment make it a worthwhile investment in your education and professional development. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your understanding of one of today’s urgent global challenges!

Syllabus

Course Introduction

This session introduces you to this online training programme, its learning objectives and the essential skills that we envisage you will learn. Please review the Key Information document, the Course Introduction video and activities and then proceed to our first weekly lesson: ' Internal displacement: scale, causes and effects’.

Internal displacement due to armed conflict is a global phenomenon in today’s world. This session introduces you to key figures on the scale of internal displacement globally, as well as current trends in the drivers of internal displacement and its effects on those displaced.

Since the 1990s, the fundamentals of an international system for responding to the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have become increasingly established. This session introduces you to debates around the emergence of IDPs as a global category of concern. This session also outlines the main features of the framework for IDP protection at global, regional and national levels, as well as the roles of the main institutional actors at the international level in responding to internal displacement.

Last week, you studied law and policy frameworks on IDP ‘protection’ – but, in situations of conflict, what does that mean in practice? This session will examine not only the main elements of the term ‘protection’ in conflict contexts but also the practical challenges and responses to attempting to provide protection to IDPs during conflict. This week will also ask you to think about protection as a state that is not only provided by others but which also be developed through the agency of IDP communities that have their own mechanisms for self-protection in conflict contexts.

This session analyses ‘durable solutions’ to internal displacement. This concept describes three processes through which IDPs overcome the vulnerability imposed by displacement and retake control of their lives. The session will explore the conceptual content of such solutions. It will also show that, in practice, the pursuit of durable solutions engages not only humanitarian concerns but also long-term processes of development. This week will also assess the specific challenges of achieving durable solutions in light of the growing number of urban IDPs who seek to re-establish themselves in cities and other urban contexts.

This session introduces you to the role of identity and social status in shaping women and men’s experiences of displacement as well as responses to displacement. It will give you a better understanding of the social impact of displacement on women and men at the individual, familial and community level. This session also asks you to think about how gender and other social markers can influence experiences of displacement.

This session explores the lived experience of internal displacement and looks at how IDP narratives are used in creative and advocacy contexts. The sources for this session highlight some of the key issues faced by IDPs – such as building/rebuilding homes, access to education, relationships with host communities – and provide a showcase of the varying ways IDPs give creative expression to their experiences. This week also asks you to consider how IDP testimony can elevate issues of internal displacement in the public sphere.