Planned relocation (PR) is a last resort response to climate risk whereby communities collectively move out of harm’s way when adaptation limits are reached. Communities around the world are increasingly forced to consider PR as the habitability of their homes comes into question. Even though many may still find adaptation in place preferable, the number of relocations is expected to grow. Without timely planned relocation, communities may instead experience forced displacements which are often associated with more negative outcomes.
Governments face several governance gaps that hinder effective planning and implementation to support dignified, rights-respecting, community-led relocations. These gaps exist at the stages of policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. To help address these gaps, the Planned Relocation Policy Needs Assessment aims to (1) identify policymakers, practitioners and other decision-makers working on PR processes across a diverse sample of countries, governance levels and relocation stages, (2) to better understand their knowledge and capacity-building needs. Findings will be summarized and disseminated in a short report and an online webinar, but also provide the basis for a longer term capacity-building and knowledge-exchange program in service more just and dignified relocation processes.
