Dakar – Tuesday, 3 October, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) gathered key stakeholders from West and Central Africa and beyond for a preliminary regional dialogue on Climate Mobility. This online event was organized ahead of the upcoming session of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM), which also took place October 5-6 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme: "Think about Tomorrow, Act Today: The Future of Human Mobility and Climate Change".

This online event gathered more than 100 stakeholders from Civil society organizations, private sector, pastoralist communities, governments and donors’ representatives, youth and the media from across the region and 12 speakers. With a primary focus on the next steps following the expansion of the KDMECC-AFRICA (Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change), the discussions highlighted the crucial roles that both governments and youth have played and continue to play in the process. The discussions also emphasized the interest of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to closer collaborate with IOM and to actively engage in addressing human mobility in the context of climate change through active collaboration.

The stakeholders also delved into the importance of adopting a holistic, whole of society approach in addressing climate-induced mobility. These discussions have resulted into 4 key messages:

- The whole-of-society (“Act together”) approach is necessary to build a narrative that is evidence-based and fair for the communities of the region and to stimulate concrete climate action.

- Importance of supporting the dialogue at national level between all the stakeholders on the Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, including on its implementation.

- Following their key participation in the Kampala process, great enthusiasm from youth representatives to be actively involved in the implementation of the Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change.

- If we want to “Act today”, access to climate finance for the communities at the forefront has to be facilitated and both private sector and diaspora from the region have a pivotal role to play, including on the development of nature-based solutions and green jobs for youth

For multiple stakeholders from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, and across the West and Central Africa region, shared perspectives on climate action and human mobility remain the development and reinforcement of local, regional, and international actions.

“Strong partnerships are vital. IOM cooperates in the United Nations Working Group on Climate Change, Environment Security and Development for West Africa and co-chairs the Regional United Nations Migration Network,” says IOM Regional Director, Christopher Gascon. “Climate change is a human reality and is already impacting migration patterns in the region, where communities and governments are at the forefront.”

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reported in 2022 1,156,060 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to disasters such as floods, storms, or landslides, and the World Bank foresees that 32 million people could be compelled to move within their countries if no climate action and inclusive development are implemented.

“Our commitment is to protect both our environment and the well-being of our people by integrating human mobility into climate resilience efforts” adds Mr. Jiwoh Abdulai, Honorable Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Republic of Sierra Leone.

At the forefront of operational, research, policy and advocacy efforts, IOM seeks to bring environmental migration to the heart of national, regional, and international agendas. In close collaboration with Member States, observers and partners, IOM is committed to supporting inclusive multilateral cooperation and developing innovative migration responses that can make humane and orderly migration part of the solution to address the climate emergency.

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For more information, please contact:

Hind Aïssaoui Bennani, Regional Migration, Environment and Climate change specialist, haissaoui@iom.int

Joëlle Furrer, Regional Media and Communications Lead, jfurrer@iom.int