Humanitarian crises pose a formidabledevelopment challenge. Whether caused by conflict, naturaldisaster, climate-related events, or some combination of thethree, crises have been steadily increasing in frequency,severity, and complexity. While the nature and incidences ofthese crises vary significantly, they affect millions ofpeople, particularly the most vulnerable. Some populationsare displaced from their communities or countries as aresult of crises; others stay where they are, by choice ornecessity, and must navigate unpredictable and dangerousenvironments. Forced displacement is becoming more commonand more protracted. In December 2015, The majority remainswithin their country (IDMC 2016).In this context, thispaper seeks to enhance the knowledge of policy makers anddonors on the role of financial services mitigatinghumanitarian crises by synthesizing existing empiricalevidence as well as operational lessons from programmaticevaluations. Where evidence is strong enough, the paperrecommends actions that policy makers and donors can take toimprove the provision of financial services tocrisis-affected populations. The paper also identifiesfuture research and policy priorities. The proposalsoutlined in this paper, which was funded by the State andPeace-Building Fund within the World Bank Group, directlysupports our broader objective of promoting diversified,efficient, and inclusive financial systems at the global andcountry levels. Continued collaboration across sectors,institutions, and borders is the only way that the globaldevelopment community will be able to address the immensechallenge of forced displacement in a sustainable manner.The detailed analysis in this paper will provide invaluableguidance to the World Bank Group’s country operations aswell as to our development partners.
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