Hope in Motion: How IOM Malawi is Pioneering Lasting Solutions for Displacement

Bridget Chipatula still remembers the night the floods came. The rain had been relentless, pounding her village in Chikwawa District for days. But nothing could have prepared her for the moment when water surged through her home, sweeping away everything she had built.

"I stood there, frozen, as the floodwater swallowed my house," she recalls. "It was as if my entire life had been washed away." She had to flee to safer grounds. In a wet, cold school, she found refuge for the night, alongside around 200 others.

For displaced families like Bridget's, disaster does not just destroy homes, it dismantles livelihoods, displaces communities, and leaves people trapped in a cycle of vulnerability. Every rainy season brought fear. Every year, she had to start over.

Breaking the Cycle of Displacement

Malawi faces increasing displacement due to climate-driven disasters like floods and droughts. Families who lose their homes often find themselves living in displacement camps for prolonged periods, unable to return due to destroyed infrastructure, land erosion, or continued risk of flooding. Others attempt to integrate into nearby host communities, where already scarce resources make it difficult to sustain additional families. Without support, many displaced people remain in a state of limbo, reliant on temporary humanitarian aid but unable to rebuild their lives.

This is where the International Organization for Migration (IOM) steps in. As the global chair in 2025 of the Durable Solutions to End Displacement Working Group, IOM Malawi works closely with the Government of Malawi and local communities to provide long-term solutions that allow displaced families to move forward. Durable solutions—return, local integration, and relocation—are at the heart of IOM’s efforts to end displacement in a way that restores dignity and self-reliance.

The Three Durable Solutions

1. Return – Whenever safe and viable, IOM supports displaced families in returning to their areas of origin. However, for many, this option is not feasible, as homes and farmland remain submerged or destroyed. “We stayed at the camp for a long time, hoping the water would recede so we could return home. However, even after the rainy season ended, the Shire River kept flooding our homes, forcing us to remain at the camp”, said Victor William who is a chairperson for disaster management committee at Mpingasa relocation site. In cases where return is possible, IOM advocates for reintegration support, and technical assistance for home reconstruction and disaster risk reduction measures to prevent future displacement.

2. Local Integration – Some families opt to settle within their host communities, but limited land and economic hardships often make this difficult. “When the government closed the camps, we tried to find a place to live in the host community. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough land for everyone, and the rental houses were too expensive for us”, said Jussa Bakali from Mitoni relocation site. 

3. Relocation – For those who cannot return, planned relocation offers a fresh start in a safer location. Working with the Government of Malawi, IOM has facilitated the identification of suitable land, engaged displaced and host communities in decision-making, and supported the constructed essential infrastructure such as water and sanitation facilities. This process ensures that relocated families have the foundation needed to rebuild their lives sustainably. Community dialogues strengthen social cohesion and ensure that integration does not lead to new vulnerabilities for neither host nor relocated people. “When we first arrived, the host community was worried that we would compete for the limited resources. However, after a peaceful integration session organized by IOM, they realized we are partners in development, not a threat”, Said Maxwell Dishon from Mitoni relocation site.

A Fresh Start in Chikuse Relocation Site

After losing her home, Bridget was relocated to the Chikuse Relocation Site, where she received MWK 200,000 from IOM’s Cash for Shelter program. "I knew this money was more than just financial aid—it was a chance to start over," she says. With careful planning, she purchased construction materials and hired local artisans to help build her home. Brick by brick, her hope grew. "Seeing the walls rise gave me strength. After 89 days, my family had a stable home. For the first time in years, I no longer fear the rainy season."

Bridget’s story is one of many. Paul Ndamera, another beneficiary in Mpingasa Relocation Site, echoes similar relief: "For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have an actual house in a safe area that will protect my wife and children."

Beyond providing homes, IOM empowers displaced people with new skills to build self-reliance. Steven Zimba, a local artisan in Chikwawa, had struggled to find construction work for years. But when IOM needed builders for the relocation effort, he finally had a chance to prove his skills. "For so long, I told people I knew how to build, but I had no opportunities to show them. Now, I am not only rebuilding my community, but I am also rebuilding my life."

The Road Ahead: A Sustainable Future

Ending displacement is about more than just moving people, it is about ensuring they have the tools, resources, and opportunities to thrive in their new environments. IOM works with the government, local leaders, and host communities to secure land tenure, build infrastructure, and create economic opportunities. Lessons from Malawi’s relocation exercise highlight the importance of community engagement, environmental sustainability, and inclusive planning to make durable solutions truly lasting.

Jussa Bakali, a Village Development Committee leader, captures the transformation best: "The resettlement has given our community new hope. Now, we can rebuild our lives without fear of losing everything again. IOM hasn't just provided us with materials, they've given us the strength to face the future with resilience."

From return and integration to planned relocation, the Durable Solution Approach in Malawi is breaking the cycle of displacement – slowly but surely, brick for brick. The different solutions are restoring not just homes, but hope, dignity, and the possibility of a future free from disaster-induced displacement.

For Bridget, the days of rebuilding after every storm are over. "Now, I can focus on my children’s future instead of worrying about where we will sleep next rainy season," she says. And for countless others like her, that is the true meaning of a durable solution.

Youtube Link: IOM Video Shelter Chikuse Mpingasa Malawi 2024 Final