In Afghanistan, over 6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are living in protracted displacement, representing the second largest IDP population group worldwide. In addition, over half a million Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan in the fall of 2023. The displaced and returnees live often in informal settlements (ISETs) with no right to their land or housing, and at risk of forced evictions. Access to land or shelter has been for decades, and remains today, a fundamental challenge underscoring the need to examine responses to landlessness for the displaced.

Developed with Samuel Hall, this Research Brief takes stock of past ‘Land Allocation Schemes’ in Afghanistan in order to better plan ahead. It provides an overview of these schemes, including in terms of their capacity to accommodate returnees, their shortcomings and successes, appropriateness and accessibility, notably as communicated by residents themselves. This is followed by a presentation of best practices, engagement opportunities and recommendations for meaningful engagement with the land-related needs of returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.

The Research Brief is available here.