Formal settlements

1. Definition and Purpose of Formal Settlements

Formal Settlements are planned, authorized, and purpose-built to host people affected by crises and disasters. Refugees or IDPs living there receive centralized protection, humanitarian assistance, and other services from local governments and humanitarian actors. They are developed to offer basic services to their residents and have formal recognition/approval from the authorities. These settlements are designed to meet national and international humanitarian standards and should be integrated into national and local development frameworks to support longer-term sustainability, social cohesion and inclusion.

They feature:

• Structured layouts based on settlement and urban planning principles. 

• Essential infrastructure and services, including shelter, water, sanitation, health, education, and energy; preferably connected to existing national or municipal networks. Along with access to protection services, community spaces, and humanitarian assistance.

• Clear governance and coordination arrangements, with roles and responsibilities defined from the outset, preferably led by government/local authorities, or civil society organizations.

• Risk reduction and environmental considerations, including provisions for disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience in the settlement's planning and development.

2. Key Principles

• The needs of the forcibly displaced population all over the world is diverse, and the contexts in which those populations settle differ widely, so that no single settlement model can address all situations. To determine the most suitable and sustainable solutions, it is crucial to examine existing coping strategies and consult with displaced populations and host governments host populations, Life span of settlement persists longer than initially anticipated, as the duration and nature of the displacement  is unpredictable, Planning must therefore incorporate sustainability criteria from the onset. 

• Formal settlements should follow the masterplan approach, ensuring organized spatial layout, efficient infrastructure, and service delivery.

• Because displacement often becomes prolonged, formal settlements from the onset should be designed to enable transitioning into sustainable human settlements, that promote longer-term development and coexistence with host communities. 

• Tenure security must be established through legal arrangements to protect forcibly displaced people from eviction and exploitation. Housing, Land and Property (HLP) issues are often complex and multi-dimensional: early engagement with local authorities and technical departments is essential to understand land tenure systems, prevent disputes, and ensure access to specialized expertise needed to navigate legal frameworks.

3. Site selection, Design and Planning Considerations

• Conduct comprehensive assessments using the UNHCR Multi-Sectoral Site Assessment Form to evaluate environmental, social, cultural, protection, economic, and operational suitability.

• Assess risks such as flooding, drought, landslides, security threats, land disputes, and other possible threats and ensure responsiveness in planning, referring to the safe and secure settlements entry.

• Prioritize sites that can be connected to existing municipal services (water, electricity, sanitation, waste management) rather than creating parallel systems.

• Apply urban planning principles; zoning, road hierarchies, density management, spatial organization, to ensure efficient service delivery and safe movement.

• Incorporate community facilities and public spaces to foster social cohesion.

• Evaluate, and then integrate measures to mitigate environmental impacts, natural resource availability, and exposure to hazards, referring to the entry on Environmental and Extreme Weather-Related Considerations in Emergencies | UNHCR. 

  4. Governance, Coordination and Service Provision