Guidance for a Landscape Approach in Displacement Settings (GLADS)

A good and shared understanding of the displacement setting landscape is a first step in dealing with “Complexity of social-ecological systems” and “multiple functions and trade-offs”. This includes understanding new social relations and negotiation of access, and use of resources between host communities and other stakeholders.

Such a vision includes social, environmental and economic sustainability outcomes to be agreed upon considering the current context, and the desired future for the specific landscape, in order to contribute to ecosystem and livelihood resilience of refugees and host communities.

An integrated approach entails working across sectors, geographic and socioeconomic boundaries, and addressing longer-term objectives and needs. It builds on good understanding of stakeholder perceptions and the principle of effective “participation and stakeholder engagement”, involving both refugees and host communities.

Continuous monitoring, evaluation and learning on initiatives within an integrated landscape approach in displacement settings, allows for shared understanding of successes and failures, and informs timely adaptation.

Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is important to issues across all stages of the conceptualization, development and implementation of interventions, even more so in displacement settings. In displacement settings there are diverse populations, needs, perspectives and options for refugees and host communities influenced by age, religion, ethnicity, vulnerabilities, (minority groups and people with disabilities, etc). Gender mainstreaming into ILA aims at empowering women, men, youth and vulnerable groups to benefit equitably.