East African countries face serious challenges resulting from climate variability: Prolonged and more frequent droughts, together with erratic rainfall patterns, increase the risk of localized floods. These shifts ripple through patterns of human mobility, demanding strategic responses.
Accordingly, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) outlined strategies in the IGAD Migration Action Plan, complemented by the IGAD Protocols on Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance. Both protocols incorporate the movement of disaster-affected persons. The Global Programme “Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change” (HMCCC) supports IGAD to improve and apply knowledge about sustainable management of human mobility.
Recent achievements of the HMCCC program include innovative modelling techniques for understanding climate-induced human mobility shifts. Additionally, a 2022 study explored livelihoods, resilience, and migration within the context of slow-onset climate changes, shedding light on cross-border impacts. A scenario workshop stimulated strategic discourse across climate, security, mobility, and livelihoods, paving the way for more dialogue between regional policymakers and local communities.
