One of the direct consequences of the numerous conflicts is a high number of forcibly displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. As of 2016 there are 13 million refugees from Arab countries, in addition to 16 million internally displaced. The forcibly displaced and their host communities face enormous socio-economic hardships, in addition to the environmental, political and security challenges. The project will aim to establish a Regional Observatory on forced displacement consisting of nationally based working groups. These working groups will analyze existing data and research to ascertain the multi-dimensional impact of the forced displacement crisis; evaluating existing development interventions; identify their gaps and propose solutions. The research and evaluations, in addition to ensuing policy recommendations provided by the Regional Observatory will be based on focus groups. These groups will include representatives from academia, think tanks, the private sector, professional associations and CSOs. Regular deliberations will feed into the outputs of the Regional Observatory that will produce a handbook that will form the basis of a capacity-building module targeting senior civil servants in the designated pilot countries. The handbook will include the multidimensional impact analysis, evaluations of development assistance interventions undertaken during the last 7 years and possible responses by national institutions and CSOs. The selection of the pilot countries is based on those most affected by the Syrian war, namely Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan, in addition to Palestinians from Syria.