IOM Pakistan is dedicated to saving lives, alleviating suffering, and upholding human dignity by ensuring safe and dignified living conditions for displaced individuals and communities affected by displacement. IOM is committed to addressing the complex, multi-faceted drivers of crises and displacement while working to reduce their long-term negative effects. Upon request from the Government, IOM will continue to provide crisis response, collaborating with civil society to foster protection-centred environments that support recovery, stabilization, social cohesion, peacebuilding, and preparedness efforts.

6.4, High |
|
4, High |
|
164 of 193, Low |
Pakistan is consistently ranked among the ten most vulnerable countries to the effects of global climate change.1 The country is under stress from various natural hazards, including seismic activity originating in the Himalaya region, along with numerous hydrometeorological hazards such as flooding, cyclones, droughts, and adverse weather, which are expected to intensify and affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, and also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
Instability in Afghanistan during the past few decades has led to a substantial influx of Afghan nationals into Pakistan. As per the Regional Refuge Response Plan 2024-2025, there are approximately 3.1 million Afghan nationals living in Pakistan.2 Of them, approximately 1.33 million are holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card issued by the Government of Pakistan, while 803,000 hold an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), 800,000 individuals are believed to be undocumented with a further 143,900 Unregistered Members of Registered Families.3 Since the October 2023 launch of the three-phase “Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan” (IFRP) set against a wider and ongoing trend of consistent arrests, detention, and deportation of Afghans, a total of 738,583 Afghan nationals – including 88 per cent of undocumented Afghans – have returned to Afghanistan through the implementation of the IFRP. Plans for carrying out the second phase of the IFRP, targeting ACC holders were announced but have not materialized (as of late 2024).
Pakistan is consistently ranked among the ten most vulnerable countries to the effects of global climate change.1 The country is under stress from various natural hazards, including seismic activity originating in the Himalaya region, along with numerous hydrometeorological hazards such as flooding, cyclones, droughts, and adverse weather, which are expected to intensify and affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, and also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
Instability in Afghanistan during the past few decades has led to a substantial influx of Afghan nationals into Pakistan. As per the Regional Refuge Response Plan 2024-2025, there are approximately 3.1 million Afghan nationals living in Pakistan.2 Of them, approximately 1.33 million are holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card issued by the Government of Pakistan, while 803,000 hold an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), 800,000 individuals are believed to be undocumented with a further 143,900 Unregistered Members of Registered Families.3 Since the October 2023 launch of the three-phase “Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan” (IFRP) set against a wider and ongoing trend of consistent arrests, detention, and deportation of Afghans, a total of 738,583 Afghan nationals – including 88 per cent of undocumented Afghans – have returned to Afghanistan through the implementation of the IFRP. Plans for carrying out the second phase of the IFRP, targeting ACC holders were announced but have not materialized (as of late 2024). The overall protection environment for displaced Afghan nationals across Pakistan continues to deteriorate, which will further impact social cohesion.
In addition, Pakistan faces national security, economic and political concerns. The humanitarian and human rights situation remains precarious. Despite increasing tensions and threats of deportations, Pakistan will continue to be one of the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. Following the 2024 general elections, the country continues to face a fragile economy, deepening social tensions and a deteriorating security situation. Pakistan has been facing economic shocks coupled with hazards including massive destruction and loss of crops during the 2022 flooding, one of the main sources of economic activity in the country. This has had a direct impact on displacement; as of August 2023, 1.3 million flood-affected persons from 2022 remained in displacement. There are also impacts on the sustainability of returns and social cohesion in areas which have been affected by the 2022 floods and 2023 monsoons and floods.
These crises have diverse impacts on different population groups in Pakistan, with significant gender, age, and disability-specific challenges. Displaced and marginalized women and girls face increased risks of gender-based violence and limited access to reproductive healthcare, while also shouldering added caregiving responsibilities and facing barriers to livelihoods. Children, especially young girls, experience disruptions in education, and boys may be more vulnerable to labour exploitation due to economic pressures. Elderly individuals and persons with disabilities face unique obstacles, including mobility issues and unmet health needs. Youths risk missing educational and job opportunities, impacting social cohesion.
IOM works in close partnership with the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and UN Country Team (UNCT), donors and government partners, and implements various programmes spanning humanitarian assistance, protection, mobility monitoring, community stabilization, migration management, humanitarian border management, capacity-strengthening and communications, in cooperation with an extensive network of partners. IOM also leads data collection activities through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to guide evidence-based programming, from pre-crisis risk assessment, during-crisis humanitarian data and post-crisis supporting community stabilization. IOM is also among 19 UN agencies working with the Government of Pakistan to assist the most vulnerable under the “Delivering as One UN Programme,” which seeks to enhance the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of the UN in country.
Under the UNCT, IOM leads the Shelter and Non-Food Items (S-NFI) sector in the context of hazards. IOM has a history of coordinating S-NFI responses in Pakistan, in support of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA), including approximately 53 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international NGOs (INGOs) and UN agencies. Since August 2022, IOM has re-established and maintained active S-NFI coordination mechanisms at the national, provincial, and district levels across Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Hyderabad, which were crucial during the 2022 flood response and initial recovery phase. Under the IOM-led S-NFI sector working group, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) is integrated as a sub-sector.
In addition, IOM actively participates in coordination mechanisms and discussions to support implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027. Under the Protection sector, IOM is an active member of the gender-based violence (GBV) sub-working group. IOM also implements projects through women-led organizations, such as the Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) in Islamabad and Punjab. With regards to protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), IOM is an active member of the Pakistan PSEA Network and its sub-working groups on the UN Implementing Partner Protocol, capacity-strengthening and inter-agency referral standard operating procedures (SOP) document. With regards to climate change,
IOM works in close partnership with the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and UN Country Team (UNCT), donors and government partners, and implements various programmes spanning humanitarian assistance, protection, mobility monitoring, community stabilization, migration management, humanitarian border management, capacity-strengthening and communications, in cooperation with an extensive network of partners. IOM also leads data collection activities through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to guide evidence-based programming, from pre-crisis risk assessment, during-crisis humanitarian data and post-crisis supporting community stabilization. IOM is also among 19 UN agencies working with the Government of Pakistan to assist the most vulnerable under the “Delivering as One UN Programme,” which seeks to enhance the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of the UN in country.
Under the UNCT, IOM leads the Shelter and Non-Food Items (S-NFI) sector in the context of hazards. IOM has a history of coordinating S-NFI responses in Pakistan, in support of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA), including approximately 53 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international NGOs (INGOs) and UN agencies. Since August 2022, IOM has re-established and maintained active S-NFI coordination mechanisms at the national, provincial, and district levels across Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Hyderabad, which were crucial during the 2022 flood response and initial recovery phase. Under the IOM-led S-NFI sector working group, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) is integrated as a sub-sector.
In addition, IOM actively participates in coordination mechanisms and discussions to support implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027. Under the Protection sector, IOM is an active member of the gender-based violence (GBV) sub-working group. IOM also implements projects through women-led organizations, such as the Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) in Islamabad and Punjab. With regards to protection from sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), IOM is an active member of the Pakistan PSEA Network and its sub-working groups on the UN Implementing Partner Protocol, capacity-strengthening and inter-agency referral standard operating procedures (SOP) document. With regards to climate change, IOM supports the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan on Climate Change and, starting in late 2024, IOM leads the BRAVE Consortium (Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerability to Emergencies) Programme, bringing together expertise from IOM, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CARE, Acted, and Islamic Relief Worldwide to tackle Pakistan’s urgent climate resilience and humanitarian challenges. IOM coordinates this multi-sectoral consortium, aiming to enhance resilience in the most climate-vulnerable regions, including Sindh, Balochistan, and South Punjab. As the Consortium Secretariat, IOM will ensure streamlined governance, coordination, and impact-driven outcomes aligned with Pakistan's needs and policy frameworks.
For the Afghan Crisis Response, IOM is an active contributor to the Regional Refugee Response Plan 2024-2025 - Afghanistan Situation (RRRP) that also targets ACC holders and undocumented Afghan nationals, in addition to refugees. IOM is working with the Government of Pakistan, international partners and civil society to implement an integrated, multi-sectoral, area-based programme that aims to address humanitarian needs over the short-term, as well as medium and long-term needs to increase the resilience of affected populations and the stability of host communities.
IOM implements humanitarian and development activities in coordination with the Government of Pakistan, including the NDMA and PDMA, Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) and Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON). IOM closely works with those partners to enhance the resilience of targeted communities while recognizing and strengthening the capacities of communities and of community-based organizations.
IOM began its operations in Pakistan in 1981 and has since expanded its capacities across the country. IOM now has an established mission comprising around 1,300 staff in offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Mirpur, Karachi, Sukkur, Peshawar and Quetta. IOM has a unique position with a presence in all provinces of the country, enabling it to provide direct support to affected populations and lead on coordination at the national and provincial levels. With its extended presence and its staff and partners being able to access a vast range of field locations, IOM has established itself as the main responder to humanitarian emergencies in the country. IOM was a leading responder to emergencies, in particular natural hazards, such as the earthquake in 2005 and the floods in 2010, 2011 and 2022.
IOM Pakistan focuses on addressing humanitarian needs and reducing vulnerabilities linked to longer-term interventions through protection-sensitive programming, supporting durable solutions for displaced populations, tailored to local needs and priorities, and contributing to stability and peacebuilding, addressing drivers of instability, conflict, and climate change. IOM supports government and civil society actors to create conditions for stabilization and to manage safe, orderly, and regular migration, including in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This support includes interventions related to tailored protection responses to vulnerable/at risk individuals, assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR), movement and resettlement assistance including pre-departure cultural orientation for refugees, migration health, immigration and border governance (IBG) including humanitarian border management, and conflict-sensitive humanitarian support to climate- and conflict-affected Pakistanis and migrants in Pakistan. IOM follows an integrated approach to address the highest priority needs, including supporting economic opportunities and private sector revitalization, strengthening social cohesion between communities, and enhancing the resilience of people affected by conflict, climate change and displacement.
IOM signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Pakistan on 9 October 2000 and maintains close engagement with national authorities and institutions. IOM supports the Government to strengthen migration management, contributing to the country’s efforts to ensure no one is left behind, while upholding fundamental rights, fostering resilience, promoting accountability, and advancing sustainability. Government counterparts include the Ministry of Interior (MOI), MOFA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC), National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), National Institute of Health (NIH), the SAFRON, CAR, and Provincial CAR.
IOM supports the Government to ensure that basic social services are equally accessible to all, including for people on the move, especially during crises s. In particular, IOM works closely with the border management authorities and law enforcement agencies to build stronger rights sensitive border governance through the provision of training and materials on humanitarian border management as well as equipment and tools. IOM also works with law enforcement agencies on strengthening their capacity in protection, in particular on the rights of migrants, including those of Afghan nationals in Pakistan tied to their respective status, and on countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. For humanitarian responses to hazards, as the lead of the S-NFI sector and participating in other sectors, IOM facilitates coordination under the lead of the Government, and provides emergency response and support, including health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education and social protection, shelter, CCCM and early recovery. Jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IOM also provides technical support to the Government, advocating for the respect and protection of the rights of all migrants and displaced people.
In addition, IOM continues to support the Government of Pakistan in the development and/or implementation of policies and other strategic documents to integrate human mobility and displacement, so enhancing the human rights of all human beings, particularly migrants and displaced populations; for example the National Adaptation Plan or Climate Change Action Plans steering Pakistan toward climate-resilient development.
IOM signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Pakistan on 9 October 2000 and maintains close engagement with national authorities and institutions. IOM supports the Government to strengthen migration management, contributing to the country’s efforts to ensure no one is left behind, while upholding fundamental rights, fostering resilience, promoting accountability, and advancing sustainability. Government counterparts include the Ministry of Interior (MOI), MOFA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC), National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), National Institute of Health (NIH), the SAFRON, CAR, and Provincial CAR.
IOM supports the Government to ensure that basic social services are equally accessible to all, including for people on the move, especially during crises s. In particular, IOM works closely with the border management authorities and law enforcement agencies to build stronger rights sensitive border governance through the provision of training and materials on humanitarian border management as well as equipment and tools. IOM also works with law enforcement agencies on strengthening their capacity in protection, in particular on the rights of migrants, including those of Afghan nationals in Pakistan tied to their respective status, and on countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. For humanitarian responses to hazards, as the lead of the S-NFI sector and participating in other sectors, IOM facilitates coordination under the lead of the Government, and provides emergency response and support, including health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education and social protection, shelter, CCCM and early recovery. Jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IOM also provides technical support to the Government, advocating for the respect and protection of the rights of all migrants and displaced people.
In addition, IOM continues to support the Government of Pakistan in the development and/or implementation of policies and other strategic documents to integrate human mobility and displacement, so enhancing the human rights of all human beings, particularly migrants and displaced populations; for example the National Adaptation Plan or Climate Change Action Plans steering Pakistan toward climate-resilient development.












IOM’s localization approach in Pakistan effectively reflects the five pillars of IOM’s global Localization Framework. By fostering equitable partnerships with local organizations, projects are co-designed with the local organizations and community stakeholders to reflect community priorities. Funding is allocated to locally-led initiatives where feasible, enhancing accountability and community participation, as these local actors often represent the voices and priorities of the community. Across Pakistan, IOM works with a strong network of local partners and is committed to strengthening capacities, as needed, on both programme delivery and administrative requirements, to ensure the long-term sustainability of locally-led interventions.
Rooted in IOM’s community-based planning (CBP) approach, IOM Pakistan strives to ensure that local voices are central to decision-making. For example, under Protection, IOM works with five local organizations, leveraging their local knowledge and expertise to strategically expand the scope and reach of its work in vulnerable areas across Pakistan.
IOM’s localization approach in Pakistan effectively reflects the five pillars of IOM’s global Localization Framework. By fostering equitable partnerships with local organizations, projects are co-designed with the local organizations and community stakeholders to reflect community priorities. Funding is allocated to locally-led initiatives where feasible, enhancing accountability and community participation, as these local actors often represent the voices and priorities of the community. Across Pakistan, IOM works with a strong network of local partners and is committed to strengthening capacities, as needed, on both programme delivery and administrative requirements, to ensure the long-term sustainability of locally-led interventions.
Rooted in IOM’s community-based planning (CBP) approach, IOM Pakistan strives to ensure that local voices are central to decision-making. For example, under Protection, IOM works with five local organizations, leveraging their local knowledge and expertise to strategically expand the scope and reach of its work in vulnerable areas across Pakistan. In Pakistan, where IOM leads the S-NFI sector (including the CCCM working group), local actors are fully engaged in sectoral meetings and coordination efforts and are the principal users of the common pipeline. Visibility and advocacy efforts also focus on amplifying local voices and showcasing locally-led successes.
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

In 2025, IOM will continue to deliver essential assistance to vulnerable populations in Pakistan, including undocumented and ACC Afghan nationals and host communities. By addressing basic needs and providing protection services, IOM seeks to mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities these populations face and will ensure that its crisis programming remains inclusive, gender-sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of women, girls, men and boys in affected communities.
IOM Pakistan will adopt a comprehensive, integrated approach to meet immediate needs, offering a range of support such as shelter, NFI, cash assistance, protection including gender-based violence (GBV) services, healthcare, CCCM, as well as WASH support. Particular emphasis will be placed on serving minorities, marginalized groups, and those with specific needs, ensuring that protection is central to all interventions.
To uphold a high standard of humanitarian response and foster social cohesion, IOM Pakistan will leverage data from its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) tools and other relevant data sources to deliver targeted and impactful assistance to communities in need. Assistance extends not only to Afghan nationals but also to host communities, promoting harmony and resource-sharing. For instance, Emergency Health programming intentionally allocates support to both host and Afghan communities , helping reduce competition for resources and fostering peaceful coexistence.
Driving solutions to displacement

IOM Pakistan’s approach to long-term recovery focuses on tackling structural vulnerabilities by expanding livelihoods, rehabilitating essential infrastructure for displaced and host communities and fostering adaptation to the long-term effects of climate and environmental change. To increase self-reliance, IOM will continue providing small-scale livelihood opportunities, social enterprise support, and materials or cash for small business development to help communities rebuild assets and infuse capital into local economies. To mitigate adverse drivers, IOM will strengthen community cohesion through community-based planning programmes, shared livelihoods and economic integration, socially inclusive service provision and community-based resilience activities to mitigate the impact of the Afghan crisis for both Afghan nationals and host communities.
Finally, IOM will empower local communities and government authorities to more effectively withstand and adapt to climate shocks for sustainable, long-term climate resilience. This will include restoring sustainable, climate change-adapted livelihoods and increased access to labour markets as well as mitigating the impact of the monsoon floods. For example, IOM Pakistan will work with local communities to develop community-based early warning systems (EWS) in at-risk communities and re-construct housing using vernacular building materials and techniques, making them more resistant to future shocks. Similarly, the Enterprise Development Fund supports Pakistani business owners who, in turn, create employment opportunities for Afghan nationals, enhancing economic interdependence and social cohesion between the communities.
Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.
IOM Pakistan will continue to prioritize protection mainstreaming across all sectors and programme areas. IOM Pakistan conducts protection trainings and capacity strengthening for both IOM staff, as well as its implementing partners and external partners and government stakeholders, on topics including core protection principles, child safeguarding, GBV risk mitigation, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and how to conduct safe referrals. Additionally, following the 2024 country rollout of IOM's Institutional Framework for Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Crises (GBViC Framework), the mission will strive to mainstream GBV risk mitigation in all sectors of the mission’s programming to uphold common standards and the do no harm principle. Finally, SEAH prevention, mitigation, and response and the mainstreaming of PSEAH and AAP throughout all IOM Pakistan work will remain a priority in 2025. Currently, IOM Pakistan has a mission-wide confidential hotline for affected and local communities to request information, provide feedback and make complaints, including sensitive complaints such as SEAH, which will continue into 2025.
IOM Pakistan will continue to prioritize protection mainstreaming across all sectors and programme areas. IOM Pakistan conducts protection trainings and capacity strengthening for both IOM staff, as well as its implementing partners and external partners and government stakeholders, on topics including core protection principles, child safeguarding, GBV risk mitigation, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and how to conduct safe referrals. Additionally, following the 2024 country rollout of IOM's Institutional Framework for Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Crises (GBViC Framework), the mission will strive to mainstream GBV risk mitigation in all sectors of the mission’s programming to uphold common standards and the do no harm principle. Finally, SEAH prevention, mitigation, and response and the mainstreaming of PSEAH and AAP throughout all IOM Pakistan work will remain a priority in 2025. Currently, IOM Pakistan has a mission-wide confidential hotline for affected and local communities to request information, provide feedback and make complaints, including sensitive complaints such as SEAH, which will continue into 2025.
Furthermore, IOM Pakistan is strengthening its work on disability inclusion (DI), seeking to ensure that DI is mainstreamed across its protection services, as well across the mission more broadly.
IOM Pakistan will implement the institutional AAP Framework and its five operational commitments: Leadership, Information Sharing and Transparency, Participation, Complaint and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), and Partners’ Coordination. Under Leadership, IOM will enhance staff and partner capacities to drive AAP implementation. For Information Sharing and Transparency, IOM will create key information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to inform communities about their rights, available assistance, and expected staff conduct. Community participation is ensured through all programme phases, allowing affected populations to influence assistance decisions. IOM’s call centre and CFM enable feedback collection, redressal, and programme adjustments. Additionally, IOM actively collaborates in Pakistan’s AAP working group to promote unified approaches and provide technical support for humanitarian organizations.


Data for action, insight and foresight
IOM remains one of the main providers of reliable data on displacement for action in Pakistan. IOM’s DTM tools and processes allow IOM and partners to track the displacement of migrants, assess their situation and needs in areas of displacement among others, and provide the necessary information for emergency, recovery and crisis prevention programming. IOM will expand the provision of data on mobility patterns, including the movements of Afghans returning to Afghanistan through various border crossing points. The data collected will offer insights into a range of topics such as climate-induced displacement, helping to understand the effects of climate change on human mobility.

Basic needs, including food and multi-purpose cash assistance
IOM will support highly vulnerable households in displacement areas and places of origin by providing multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), in coordination with the Cash Working Group and following the minimum expenditure basket (MEB) set in Pakistan. IOM engages and empowers both host and Afghan communities by providing MPCA for basic needs, fostering social integration and cohesion.
MPCA will serve as an immediate response and social protection measure to help preserve a viable living environment; this assistance will be used to cover basic needs such as rent, food, and healthcare, helping to reduce negative coping strategies. It tackles the socioeconomic challenges of vulnerable populations and the deteriorating economic situation of the country. The value of MPCA for each year varies according to the re-evaluation of the MEB.
MPCA will be designed to ensure equitable access and inclusion by integrating gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive approaches throughout the assistance delivery process. This includes prioritizing outreach to marginalized groups, adapting distribution points for accessibility, and providing tailored support to meet the specific needs of individuals of different genders and persons with disabilities, ensuring they can access cash, NFIs, healthcare, and other essential resources without barriers.
Moreover, the MPCA will be positioned as a critical, lifesaving intervention, especially for ACC holders, should the IFRP Phase II be launched. Given the potential for these individuals to be targeted for deportation, MPCA would become the primary viable response for IOM to implement under such circumstances.

Camp coordination and camp management
IOM is leading the Shelter and Non-Food Item (S-NFI) sector, with CCCM integrated as a sub-sector )Under the CCCM component, IOM will enhance capacity strengthening of partners and government actors through the trainings on the topics such as site planning , introduction to CCCM, care and maintenance of camps etc. IOM will also coordinate working group sessions, support light-intervention repairs in disaster-affected areas, support CCCM planning, and provide technical support to partners.
IOM, through its CCCM activities, will improve the quality of life and restore the dignity of individuals and communities affected by hazards and displacement by supporting the coordination of humanitarian actors, facilitating community involvement in humanitarian programming, providing capacity strengthening to national authorities and humanitarian actors, and providing support to affected communities.
Additionally, CCCM will also work on site-level improvements to provide support to disaster and displacement-affected communities through improvements to village-level communal infrastructures. The infrastructure improvements will enhance community resilience, increase access to essential services, and create safer, more livable environments for disaster and displacement-affected communities. These improvements also foster social cohesion by involving community members in the planning and implementation through a gender-inclusive cash-for-work approach, which boosts local livelihoods and empowers diverse community members, contributing to long-term stability and dignity restoration.

Shelter and settlements
IOM’s S-NFI interventions, delivered through in-kind or cash-based modalities according to the operational context, will support those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by hazards or other events and those who have been displaced or have returned, as well as vulnerable households in local communities. Distribution of emergency S-NFI, support for shelter repair and reconstruction, technical assistance, winterization campaigns, and coordination of the S-NFI sector (including the CCCM Working Group) will all continue to be core elements. IOM will work to improve access to safe and dignified living conditions by providing support for shelter improvement/repair/reconstruction together with technical assistance, as well as supporting the construction/rehabilitation of community infrastructures. Disaster-resilient design will be incorporated into all construction and all activities will include training and guidance on disaster-resilient design and construction. IOM applies an integrated settlement approach, incorporating CCCM, WASH and housing, land and property (HLP), with priority needs identified through community-based planning.

Water, sanitation and hygiene
The focus of IOM’s emergency WASH assistance will be to ensure access to clean and safe water and hygienic conditions in emergency phase for crisis- affected communities through WASH kits, purification, repair and construction of water supply and sanitation infrastructure, and the provision of hygiene promotion activities and materials.
The focus of WASH assistance during the recovery phase will be to enhance sustainable, long-term, and reliable access to clean and safe drinking water sources that are effectively managed and maintained to meet community needs. This is complemented by efforts to improve hygiene conditions in vulnerable and disaster affected communities through the repair and construction of sustainable WASH infrastructure, hygiene promotion activities and capacity strengthening of water authorities. For example, the installation of hand pumps and establishment of WASH committees helps ensure community ownership, involving communities throughout the process, from site selection through project completion. IOM will continue to support the establishment and training of operations and monitoring committees, providing toolkits and hygiene sessions to maintain a clean area around pumps, including drainage management.
All WASH activities implemented for emergency responses will be coupled with capacity-strengthening activities on disaster preparedness and response. Similarly, all infrastructure activities implemented for long-term solutions as part of a recovery approach will be designed to be disaster resilient, to reduce the impact of future disaster events.

Health
IOM will support the provision of comprehensive primary health care services, to Afghan nationals, migrants in Pakistan, and host communities. This includes providing health services through mobile health teams, outpatient management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, child health (consultations, immunization and screening and referrals for malnutrition) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, and emergency referrals together with partners. IOM will also join the efforts of other UN agencies in vaccination campaigns for example. In addition, IOM will also integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) components within its health programming, as further detailed in the dedicated section on MHPSS.
IOM will enhance health service capacities by conducting supportive supervision visits and providing on-the-job training. IOM will contribute to improving the quality of care by supplying essential medicines and equipment, and by supporting repairs and rehabilitation of health facilities. Additionally, IOM will strengthen capacity by offering training in psychological first aid (PFA), first aid, and other health topics, such as managing diseases with outbreak potential, with participants from IOM teams, as well as health workers from government and NGO partners.
IOM will also carry out risk communication and community engagement activities, offering health promotion, education, and awareness sessions on the prevention of diseases such as malaria, dengue, acute watery diarrhea, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C. These sessions will target patients and community members such as teachers, elders, and schoolchildren. Furthermore, IOM will work to prevent climate-related health hazards, including communicable disease outbreaks, barriers to accessing health services, and premature deaths caused by malnutrition, heat stress, increased spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, and disruptions to food and water systems due to extreme events such as floods and storms.
Community engagement activities will be conducted through meetings with community corners, peer groups, and networks of community elders. Health awareness and education sessions will also be provided in schools and madrassas, alongside the distribution of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials.

Mental health and psychosocial support
n line with IOM’s community-based mental health and psychosocial approach, IOM will provide direct MHPSS services and capacity strengthening activities to community members and health workers.
IOM will promote integrated MHPSS, including the provision of psychological first aid (PFA) training to healthcare workers and community members as well as community and family support activities for migrants, including migrant children, and vulnerable Afghan nationals and host communities. This support includes group and individual counseling sessions and expressive art and play therapy, as well as integrated MHPSS approaches and referral of people in need to specialized care.
MHPSS will also include a suite of psychoeducational materials, activities and events, aimed to address and promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, reduce levels of distress and anxiety and strengthen existing sociocultural resilience and coping mechanism of individuals and groups.

Protection
OM Pakistan delivers large-scale and targeted specialized protection programming, including legal services (to at-risk migrants, community-based protection, protection case management for individuals at heightened risk, child protection, and GBV specialized services including GBV prevention and GBV response services. GBV response services include the provision of women and girl-friendly spaces, individual GBV case management, MHPSS for GBV survivors, awareness raising on GBV, including for men and boys, and the provision of dignity kits. Furthermore, IOM engages in evidence-based protection advocacy, through regular protection monitoring and analysis. In line with IOM's GBViC Framework, IOM will continue implementing the evidence-based approach, SASA! Together, to address the root causes of GBV, as one of the four pilot countries within IOM's operations. SASA! Together is a community mobilization approach that supports communities to create positive and sustainable changes around norms that perpetuate violence against women.
Community-based protection lies at the core of IOM Pakistan's protection programming, ensuring that IOM and its partners work with a network of community outreach volunteers, whom it empowers to play a central role in the design and roll-out of protection programming. In the event of a disaster, IOM Pakistan will scale up its services to crisis-affected populations, including through the provision of community-based protection, individual protection case management, and the provision of legal aid, advice, and counselling, to address protection risks related to lost or civil status documentation. Furthermore, noting that persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected during a disaster, IOM will also seek to mainstream disability inclusion in the case of a disaster, working on reducing and removing barriers and risks faced by persons with disabilities during a disaster, and identifying areas to strengthen their safety and protection.

Humanitarian border management and search and rescue
IOM Pakistan will seek to strengthen the humanitarian border management capacities of the Government of Pakistan, including in situations of crisis or mass movements of persons through its borders. This support will be done through training of border authorities on human rights obligations and gender-sensitive approaches, prevention and management of communicable disease, document security and examination, identity fraud and risk analysis, with a view to protecting borders as well as vulnerable migrants and potential victims of trafficking. This will be bolstered by improved infrastructure and equipment at identified border crossing point(s) upon completion of a human rights due diligence assessment.

Disaster risk management
IOM will continue working with government authorities and civil society organizations (CSOs) to build their capacities for emergency preparedness, in particular disaster preparedness, in line with humanitarian principles. IOM will implement a range of activities through a community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) approach. IOM will conduct assessments, such as hazard vulnerability and risk assessments that will include gender and diversity components and will develop stakeholder capacity. Furthermore, IOM will continue developing contingency planning, with all stakeholders involved and in synergy with other areas of IOM’s work, to be prepared to provide multisectoral support, including emergency cash and NFI, social cohesion and access to services and referral for targeted assistance.
To enhance the disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) capacities of Federal and Provincial Government departments in addressing the nexus of migration, environment, and climate change, IOM will provide technical assistance to key government bodies, such as Environment, Climate Change, Planning, and Urban Planning departments. This support will focus on integrating CCA, DRR, and human mobility considerations into adaptation strategies, development plans, and urban and land-use policies. Additionally, IOM will conduct research on the impact of climate change on migration, particularly in areas vulnerable to climate change and key migrant destination regions.
In addition, IOM will implement a community-driven, multi-sectoral, area-based approach to post-disaster reconstruction focusing on climate resilient shelter and settlements, incorporating DRR considerations.

Livelihoods and economic recovery
Economic hardship and limited livelihood prospects remain primary concerns for both Afghan nationals and vulnerable host communities in Pakistan. To strengthen their resilience while promoting social cohesion in the longer term, IOM will continue providing livelihood opportunities. IOM will provide a range of support including individual livelihood assistance (ILA) to develop a trained workforce for local businesses as well as to provide technical assistance to establish or expand micro-businesses. Activities will include training on soft skills required to set up and manage micro-businesses (business development services), as well as the provision of conditional cash grants, vocational training, and on-the-job training. IOM will also provide financial capital to support the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increase their productivity and allow for the creation of new sustainable jobs through IOM’s Enterprise Development Fund (EDF).

Land and property
As part of its comprehensive protection programme, IOM will continue working to address challenges related to housing, land and property (HLP) rights and issues, including through conducting research, analysis, and assessments on the HLP dynamics in IOM’s areas of intervention. In addition to ongoing research and analysis around HLP dynamics, IOM Pakistan continues to provide capacity strengthening sessions on HLP to relevant stakeholders. Under IOM’s legal protection programme, IOM through its partners, supports displaced Afghan nationals with legal advice, counselling, and legal aid, in cases related to forced evictions or other related security of tenure issues.

Community stabilization and community-driven development
In 2025, IOM will build upon the insights and lessons learned from its previous and ongoing initiatives to enhance civic engagement, promote social cohesion, and provide targeted support to displaced households and vulnerable communities. A key focus will be on assisting remote and marginalized communities along the Afghan border, particularly where poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment are significant drivers of instability and community tensions.
IOM's efforts will include tailored programs aimed at supporting vulnerable women and youth, as well as broader initiatives to strengthen mediation and dispute resolution mechanisms. These efforts will be coordinated closely with national and local authorities, as well as CSOs. As part of these initiatives, cash for work (CfW) programmes will play a pivotal role in engaging and empowering community members to restore basic services and improve communal spaces, fostering social integration and cohesion. CfW offers dual benefits by addressing community priorities related to recovery and reconstruction while injecting cash into the local economy to enhance socioeconomic conditions and enable beneficiaries to meet their daily needs. Additionally, quick impact projects (QIPs) will focus on rehabilitating community-based infrastructure, improving access to essential services in these underserved areas.
Under the socioeconomic sphere, IOM will address the root causes of community instability through activities designed to enhance livelihoods, empower community members, and foster understanding and social cohesion among diverse groups. Such activities will foster community-driven development and will be particularly focused on remote regions where challenges are most acute. By integrating these measures, IOM seeks to build stronger, more resilient, and cohesive communities in the year ahead.

Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
IOM intends to contribute to the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) in strategic areas of Pakistan, in line with the Government of Pakistan’s legal frameworks.
IOM will design interventions and activities that create an enabling environment for the community including by creating youth platforms promoting a spirit of peace and harmony and by creating opportunities for civic engagement, economic empowerment and resilience. IOM will further strengthen the capacity of the existing CSOs and government stakeholders on community consultative approaches and mobilize resources for the integration of community groups with the goal of ousting drivers of violence and extremism, and ensuring social cohesion and integration. Specifically, the interventions will include developing strategic communications to promote prevention and reconciliation, projects on economic empowerment, training programmes for government counterparts, community members and CSOs, projects on construction/rehabilitation of community infrastructures and on engaging the academia for policy support on PVE. The interventions will also have the common theme of embedding gender mainstreaming and protection.
Pakistan
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 November 2024. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.