How African Cities Are Managing Climate-induced Migration

Global displacement is rising with the majority of the people leaving rural areas for the cities. Many flee due to conflict, and economic hardships, but growing numbers are forced to move for climate reasons.

In line with the global trend of increasing urbanization, the migration is towards the nearest safe city, town, or peri-urban area, many of which are already severely under-resourced and struggling to provide services to their burgeoning populations.

Despite the scarcity of data on climate-related migration, the International Displacement Monitoring Center estimates that from 2010 to 2019, 23.1 million people were displaced because of weather-related events such as drought, flooding, and sea level rise.

The burgeoning population in sub-Saharan African urban centers spells negative risks with the projected urbanization over the next 30 years. Most of these metropolitan centers are poorly planned, and the environmental effects are devastating, contributed to by pollution from poor drainage, open landfills, and congestion.

To come up with strategies to combat the impending risks, experts and financial institutions are partnering and lobbying to mitigate the inevitable. For instance, the Cities Alliance Migration Programme in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is working closely with several metropolitan managers to stem the effects. Among the cities are, Jigjiga Ethiopia, Gabiley, Somalia, and Baidoa, Somalia.

The strategies being adopted include engaging city actors in planning and decision-making. Local funding and implementation offer valuable insights into the needs of displaced people and host communities. Activities include stakeholder consultations, locally-led pilot programs, and peer learning among cities, which empower local authorities and communities to better manage future displacements.

Additionally, estimating climate-related migration is a strategy being employed to help in future planning and improving preparedness of the urban managers in case the population balloon. These further help municipalities develop frameworks for adaptation and mitigation investments that guide growth away from high-risk zones by offering alternative locations. These plans can identify likely growth areas, add predictability to urban expansion, and prioritize water supply and future storage needs.

Further, city leaders are designing arterial networks. A well-planned grid can protect water supplies, improve drainage, and reduce flooding, ensuring connectivity and essential services during extreme events. By aligning roads and sensitive zones with natural drainage, municipalities can prevent repeated displacements and support groundwater recharge.

Also, under-resourced municipal governments often offer only short-term solutions for climate migrants, leading many to end up in unsafe urban camps or high-risk informal settlements, increasing the chance of re-displacement. To combat this, city managers are strategizing to come up with durable solutions.

Through this partnership, city leaders are now assessing vulnerabilities in informal settlements, improving access to jobs and infrastructure, and formalizing land tenure to support migrant integration, going beyond just labor policies to focus on broader urban management.

Further, Streamlined processes, business support, and proactive planning can help cities offer better infrastructure, services, and jobs, promoting cohesion and targeting support to both migrant and host communities. This is achievable through offering support to labor markets.

Moreover, the Circular Economy Approach is also employed. informal settlements can transition toward a circular economy, enhancing climate resilience and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups by linking local livelihoods to sustainable practices.

Many climate-displaced migrants lack urban skills. Providing training and reskilling for income-generating activities, particularly for those with disrupted livelihoods, is essential and leaders are heavily exploring the strategy.

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