Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization providing assistance, protection and durable solutions to displaced people worldwide. NRC is engaged at the global, regional and national level to better protect people displaced by disasters and the adverse effects of climate change. This includes the prevention of displacement by supporting states and communities to adopt disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures.

The organization prioritises the rights and protection of displaced people in disasters. NRC:

• Protects displaced people during and after disasters.
• Prevents displacement by building resilience in countries at risk.
• Deploys experts to strengthen the capacity of UN, regional and national partners who work on reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change.
• Expands and share our knowledge through research and analysis.
• Achieves long-term policy solutions through advocacy.

NRC works to prevent disaster and climate displacement, and strengthen resilience among displaced communities.

Its climate and disaster work on the ground falls within three pillars:

• Short- and long-term environmental impact assessments.
• Design and use of programmes that reduce negative environmental impact created by displaced populations and humanitarian aid.
• Community guidance on assessing environmental risks, adapting coping strategies and developing sustainable environmental practices.

In all of its projects, NRC takes care to limit its environmental footprint.

An example of NRC knowledge sharing efforts

NRC led a collaborative effort to develop the Words into Action guidelines - Disaster displacement: How to reduce risk, address impacts and strengthen resilience, which was funded by the Government of Germany and brokered by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. It provides practical guidance to help government authorities integrate disaster displacement and other related forms of human mobility into regional, national, sub-national and local DRR strategies in accordance with target E of the Sendai Framework, to revise or develop DRR strategies by 2020.

An example of NRC building resilience at the community level

In 2013, NRC and four other international NGOs with long experience in Somalia – Cooperazione e Sviluppo, Concern Worldwide, the International Rescue Committee, and Save the Children International – formed the consortium, "Building Resilient Communities in Somalia," or BRCiS. The consortium takes a holistic approach to supporting Somali communities in developing their capacity to resist and absorb minor shocks without undermining their ability to move out of poverty. The project supports cash for work activities, re-greening and stabilising soil through tree planting, vocational trainings for young people, farming schools, construction of water sources, markets or community spaces, etc.