Iran (Islamic Republic of) Crisis Response Plan 2024 - 2025

CRP last updated: December 17 2024
$47,820,000
Funding required
600,000
People Targeted
16
Entities targeted

IOM strives to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity in the Islamic Republic of Iran by supporting safe and dignified conditions for people in situations of displacement due to disasters and conflict, with a vision that all migrants, including Afghan and other refugees, are protected and empowered. Recognizing that migrants, irrespective of their origin and immigration status, deserve protection and assistance, IOM works in support of and in collaboration with governmental and other key counterparts, to create an inclusive, resilient society where every migrant's human rights are upheld, their contribution is acknowledged, and their well-being is enhanced.

Assistance provided in flood affected province of Sistan and Baluchestan © Faezeh Mohaghegh, IOM 2024

INFORM Risk

5.4, High

INFORM Severity

4, High

Human Development Index 

78 of 193

At the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) in December 2018, the Islamic Republic of Iran (hereinafter, Iran) emphasized its challenges in managing significant mixed migratory flows, which have substantial economic and social consequences for the country. The migration landscape in Iran is shaped by complex economic, social, and political factors, with Iran serving as country of origin, transit and destination for migrants. Iran hosts one of the largest migrant and refugee populations in the world, primarily composed of Afghan nationals who have fled Afghanistan over the past four decades, a large portion of whom are undocumented. According to government sources, as of November 2024, this number includes 761,000 Afghans holding registration cards (Amayesh cardholders, a temporary residence permit that serves as a refugee identification document and gives the cardholder the right to remain in the country and access certain services), 360,000 Afghans holding passports, 270,000 Afghans holding residence permits, and 2.6 million Afghans who registered through government-led headcount exercises – with an acknowledged presence of a significant but unspecified number of undocumented individuals. The headcount exercise was an initiative carried out by the Iranian Ministry of Interior (MoI) and its then Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA), aimed at identifying undocumented Afghan nationals within Iran and providing them with a temporary headcount slip.

The Iranian Government is eager to adopt a more integrated approach to revise the migration policy framework and reform its organizational structures. A key reform is the establishment of the National Organization for Migration (NOM) in August 2023, which has replaced BAFIA, to oversee migrants' presence and integration in Iran. However, without its formalized legal status from the pending bill, NOM's mandate remains limited. Meanwhile, under the MoI, Iran established the Centre for Aliens and Foreign Immigrant Affairs (CAFIA).

IOM has established a productive relationship that promotes improved coordination and information-sharing with Iran's the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and with governmental counterparts, such as the Bureau of Border Management (BBM), the National Disasters Management Organization (NDMO), and the State Welfare Organization (SWO), as well as relevant line ministries, such as the Ministry of Health (MoH) (and its Center for Communicable Disease) and the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare. These partnerships enhance IOM's ability to address migration and border management challenges. Trust-building and open dialogue have paved the way for robust capacity-strengthening initiatives, encouraging IOM and counterparts to adopt an area-based approach to address needs and priorities in an integrated manner. 

IOM’s strategic approach in Iran, combining humanitarian and protection assistance across the country while laying the foundations for durable solutions, recovery, and longer-term sustainable development efforts, is in line with the objectives outlined in the IOM Strategic Plan (2024-2028). At the regional level, IOM is one of the partners participating in the response to the Afghanistan crisis under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation (RRP). Under the RRP, IOM is a member of various working groups and co-leads the Legal Identity Working Group under the Protection Sector. This Working Group focuses on assessing and analyzing recent developments affecting the legal identity of Afghans in Iran, with an emphasis on regularization, birth registration, and civil registration.  

IOM actively participates in the Common Country Assessment (CCA) process, contributing migration-focused analysis to inform  activities undertaken under the UN Country Team (UNCT) and implementation under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

The IOM mission in Iran was established in 1991 and a cooperation agreement with the Government was signed in September 2002. Over the years, IOM has reviewed its refugee-oriented approach and adopted a guiding programme/policy-oriented approach with the purpose of assisting Iran in migration management issues and tackling the challenges that the country faces. Following the August 2021 political upheaval and resulting political transition in Afghanistan, IOM's operations in Iran have expanded significantly. The mission currently consists of international and national staff members with technical expertise in various areas, including shelter and non-food items (NFI), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, livelihoods, protection, social cohesion, pre-departure orientation for refugees and resettlement operations, cash-based interventions, infrastructure works, border management, and assisted voluntary returns and reintegration. Additional expertise in disaster risk reduction, climate-induced population mobility, and migration health are ensured through the IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, while the Mission in Iran continues to mobilize further financial resources to continue the scale-up of its structure. 

IOM also has made significant progress in establishing operational access to border provinces where it operates either supporting national actors (e.g. line ministries such as the MoI, Labour, Health, and agencies such as the State Welfare Organization, IRCS) or authorized by the Government to implement activities directly where deemed more effective. Through these partnerships, IOM has gradually gained access to sensitive geographical areas, such as the border provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan and Razavi Khorasan. Aligned with the rollout of the Conflict Sensitivity Analysis System (CSAS), IOM aims to integrate conflict sensitivity into its programming, ensuring interventions minimize tensions and promote community resilience.

Iran is undertaking a significant transition of the country's migration-related legal framework and the reform of the related institutional structures. These developments create significant momentum, providing an opportunity for IOM to work closely with the Iranian authorities to enhance the migration landscape. IOM offers customized training and capacity-strengthening programmes for government officials on international migration law and mainstreaming of migration into development plans. Additionally, IOM supports the Government of Iran to integrate mobility perspectives in strategies to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks and build resilience. Through a cooperative relationship established with line ministries, border authorities, immigration police, and policy decision-makers, IOM has developed capacity-sharing initiatives and has upgraded equipment at designated points of entry (PoEs). Within this context of strengthening frameworks and cooperation, IOM also supports government counterparts, both at the central and provincial levels, working in migration to integrate approaches focusing on the protection and dignified treatment of migrants at all stages of their journey.  

Key Operating Modalities
Participation and empowerment Conflict sensitivity Integrated Programming Collaboration and partnership Localization Cash-based interventions
Cross-cutting priorities
Data and evidence Protection Mainstreaming Gender Equality Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse Disaster Risk Climate Change Law and policy

Localization is a key component of IOM’s programming in Iran, aligned with global commitments and priorities. IOM acknowledges the central role of government authorities and the specific operational environment that guides partnerships with governmental and non-governmental actors. In alignment with national regulations, IOM has been authorized to implement activities directly, utilizing its fully trained team.

When partnering with national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), IOM remains committed to providing technical support to enhance their capacity for delivering humanitarian assistance. In areas requiring specialized expertise, such as cash assistance, IOM leverages its global and national experience to uphold high standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Additionally, IOM collaborates with specialized local partners through a referral system, integrating their ongoing programming with IOM’s interventions. This collaborative approach allows IOM to contribute to capacity-strengthening efforts and foster long-term sustainability within the framework of national guidelines.

Objective 1 - Saving lives and protecting people on the move
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

$18,550,000
Funding required
200,000
People Targeted
16
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Refugee
International migrant
Local population / community
Internal migrant

IOM will contribute to alleviate human suffering and uphold the dignity and rights of crisis-affected populations in Iran by delivering tailored assistance to address basic needs, including cash support, shelter, healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and WASH services. These activities will ensure equitable access to basic needs for displaced individuals, host communities, and populations on the move. To reduce threats and vulnerabilities, IOM will collaborate with national stakeholders and international partners to enhance migration and border management systems, implement protection mechanisms such as referral pathways, and promote evidence-based responses based on an assessment of migration trends, including the root causes and drivers of migration. IOM will also improve the quality and impact of humanitarian assistance by fostering coordination among relevant stakeholders, strengthening the capacity of national partners to sustain protection responses. These efforts aim to contribute to creating a safe, dignified environment in settlements and urban/rural areas, integrating protection measures and supporting both the immediate and long-term needs of crisis-affected populations. Guided by a rights-based, protection-centred approach, IOM will provide tailored support to vulnerable populations, enhancing coordination platforms and referral mechanisms. Recognizing Iran’s unique migration dynamics, IOM will prioritize evidence-based approaches, tailoring interventions based on mobility trends, vulnerabilities, and community needs. IOM upholds accountability and engages with governmental agencies to strengthen localized response planning and delivery.

Objective 2 - Driving solutions to displacement
Driving solutions to displacement

$23,520,000
Funding required
380,000
People Targeted
20
Entities Targeted
Primary target groups
Refugee
International migrant
Local population / community

IOM will continue to focus on enhancing access to services for displaced populations and marginalized groups through integrated approaches that align with local development priorities. These efforts will ensure long-term solutions, enabling displaced populations and communities to live in a more inclusive and stable environment. Acknowledging Iran's complex migration dynamics and the protracted displacement of Afghan populations, IOM Iran will continue to enhance the resilience and self-reliance of displaced populations and host communities by fostering skills development, sustainable livelihoods, and economic opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups. This focus includes supporting government initiatives and collaborating with the private sector to mobilize resources, expertise, and innovation, ensuring access to sustainable employment and promoting economic stability for migrants and host communities. IOM will collaborate with national partners to build technical capacities, expand market access, support sustainable livelihoods, and implement programmes that create pathways for economic inclusion. Enhancing social cohesion, public infrastructure, and access to services will be integral to IOM’s approach. By addressing barriers to livelihoods and improving public infrastructure, IOM will also contribute to fostering social cohesion and reducing tensions between communities. Additionally, IOM will focus on preparedness and risk reduction, particularly in relation to the occurrence of large-scale disasters and the impact of climate change, ultimately minimizing drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their homes. 

Facilitating pathways for regular migration
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

$5,750,000
Funding required
120,000
People Targeted
12
Entities Targeted

IOM Iran will support the development of crisis-responsive, sustainable channels for regular migration by enhancing skills mobility, facilitating access to legal identity, and strengthening migration governance frameworks to address the challenges of displacement and irregular migration. IOM is co-leading a newly established inter-agency working group on legal identity under the RRP, aimed at analysing latest developments around the access to legal identity, advocacy, and facilitating access to regularization. Collaborating with government and private sector partners, IOM will promote initiatives that match labor market needs with migrant skills, improve access to legal identity documentation, and streamline visa and regularization processes. Efforts will include capacity-strengthening for government actors and private sector stakeholders to promote ethical recruitment principles, preventing exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking. Additionally, IOM will foster evidence-based policies and raise awareness about safe and regular migration pathways. These activities aim to reduce irregular migration, promote economic opportunities, and enhance the inclusion and protection of crisis-affected migrants within host communities.  

Objective 1
Saving lives and protecting people on the move
$18,550,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Human suffering is alleviated","y":76},{"name":"Threats and vulnerabilities are reduced","y":24}]
Objective 2
Driving solutions to displacement
$23,520,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Adverse drivers of displacement are minimized","y":10},{"name":"Displaced people are resilient and self-reliant","y":90}]
Objective 3
Facilitating pathways for regular migration
$5,750,000
Funding required
[{"name":"Channels for regular migration are sustainable and responsive","y":23},{"name":"Migration flows and cross-border mobility are well managed","y":62},{"name":"Migration policy and legal frameworks are aligned with international standards","y":15}]

Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.

$120,000
Funding required
Related inter agency plans
(R)RRP

IOM is committed to placing the human rights, well-being, and protection of all migrants at the centre of its operations and decision-making, as well as ensuring that protection principles are mainstreamed at every stage of the project cycle. 

IOM will support the efforts of the Iranian Government to fulfil its responsibilities to reduce protection risks and address the needs of the most vulnerable. IOM will be guided by rights-based approaches across migration programming, demonstrate commitment to child safeguarding, involve the individuals and communities it serves in decision-making, and protect them from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH). 

In line with this approach, a range of measures will be undertaken by IOM in Iran for protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH).  These include strengthening partner and service provider capacities and awareness on PSEAH, strengthening complaint and feedback mechanisms (CFM), as a key tool relevant to both PSEAH and accountability to affected populations (AAP).

$120,000
Funding required
[["Saving lives",83],["Solutions to displacement",17]]
Distributions of non-food items to Afghans residing in a settlement in the Islamic Republic of Iran © Samane Gholamnejad / IOM Iran 2021
Distributions of non-food items to Afghans residing in a settlement in the Islamic Republic of Iran © Samane Gholamnejad / IOM Iran 2021
Data for action, insight and foresight
$500,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Basic needs, including food and multi-purpose cash assistance
$5,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Protection
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Humanitarian border management and search and rescue
$2,000,000 Funding required
Movement assistance
$700,000 Funding required
Shelter and settlements
$3,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Water, sanitation and hygiene
$3,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Health
$8,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP UNSDCF
Mental health and psychosocial support
$1,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Support to site management
$250,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Disaster risk management
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Livelihoods and economic recovery
$17,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP UNSDCF
Community stabilization and community-driven development
$2,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Integrated policy support
$1,000,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans UNSDCF
Legal identity and consular services
$250,000 Funding required
Related inter agency plans (R)RRP
Operational presence in

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

8
International staff and affiliated work force
78
National staff and affiliated work force
1
IOM field office

 

The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.

Figures are as of 31 December 2023. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.

With thanks to our current donors