The Joint Internal Displacement Profiling Service (JIPS) was set up in Geneva in 2009 as an inter-agency body to provide support to governments and humanitarian and development organisations seeking to improve locally owned information and analysis about displacement situations.

We have since become recognised as a global knowledge hub on profiling, and as an “honest broker” for our impartial, collaborative approach to establishing sound and mutually agreed evidence to inform joint interventions and responses. Our primary mission is to provide field support either on-site or remotely, in the form of strategic advice, technical assistance, training, tools and guidance.

The value of displacement profiling and JIPS’ work has been recognised by various UN resolutions, that encourage governments, humanitarian and development actors to seek JIPS’ support 

JIPS’ mandate is to bring governments and international and local actors together to jointly generate and use evidence that supports displaced and host communities to reach durable solutions. Building consensus around displacement data makes the information gleaned more useful for all partners to act upon collectively.

Our approach can be adapted to a wide range of scenarios, but is particularly well suited to protracted crises and urban settings, where IDPs tend to live interspersed with migrants, returnees, refugees and the local population. It can be pursued through standalone processes or incorporated into broader information-gathering exercises such as national surveys and censuses, and used to inform policy initiatives, programme development and advocacy efforts.

Field-focused and committed to enhancing local ownership and capacity, we do so by:

• Facilitating collective data efforts through profiling exercises, strategic advice, and application of tested tools and approaches
• Developing capacities of governments and key stakeholders to apply global standards and to own and effectively use displacement data
• Shaping global practice and standards through quality training, tools and guidance, and by contributing to global initiatives and discussions from our diverse and rich experience in displacement contexts

The Danish Refugee Council and UNHCR administratively co-host JIPS.