Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change

“We can no longer talk about climate change without talking about human mobility.” 

KDMECC Background

In July 2022, Ministers from African Member States, and particularly from the East and Horn of Africa convened in Kampala, Uganda, for an Inter-Ministerial Conference on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC). The conference was organized by the Government of the Republic of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment. It brought together Ministers of Environment, Interior and Foreign Affairs and their technical experts from 11 countries of the East and Horn of Africa Region (EHoA) who signed the first high-level regional Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC). President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, and President Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan presided over the signing.

The KDMECC outlines commitments to address the effects of climate change on human mobility in the region and capitalize on the opportunities for further sustainable development in practical and effective ways, focusing on:

• Social inclusion and livelihoods.
• Finance and investment.
• Policy and regulatory activities.
• Climate mitigation and adaptation.

Since its signing in 2022, the KDMECC has progressed towards implementation, with the formation of an Expert Working Group (EWG). The group, comprising of climate and migration experts from relevant Ministries and Regional Bodies and youth representatives meets on a regular basis with support from IOM as the secretariat. Their activities are guided by a Plan of Action developed and agreed upon by the group. Read more about key achievements as of April 2024 here.

Expansion of the KDMECC 

In response to the growing interest in the KDMECC as an action-oriented framework, and in recognition that sustainable, climate-change resilient and socially just development cannot be conceived without considering human mobility in all its forms, 48 African countries, hosted by the Government of Kenya, convened in Nairobi in August 2023 to develop and agree on  the text for the continental expansion, KDMECC-AFRICA. The final addendum text was presented to Ministers attending the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) hosted by President William Ruto in Kenya and was signed at a Ministerial Signing Ceremony during the Summit.

The KDMECC-AFRICA elaborates an additional 25 commitments demonstrating the urgency and whole-of-government prioritization that leaders in the region and the African continent place on this topic, focusing on:

• The importance of cooperation to comprehensively tackle the challenges and opportunities of the climate-change and migration nexus.
• The interlinkage of human mobility with the green and blue economies, water and food security, conflict, fragility and social cohesion, sustainable development, and healthcare.
• The importance of policy coherence and of sub-regional, regional and international partnerships including with youth and diaspora.
• The need for improving access and availability of data and for improving communication and information to communities of origin, transit, and destination.
• The importance of ensuring the dignity, protection and rights of migrants and implementing the legal instruments aimed at safeguarding people in vulnerable situations.

Youth engagement on Migration, Environment and Climate Change

Youth engagement has been central to the KDMECC process from inception to implementation. Through capacity building and involvement in KDMECC activities, young people interested in climate-induced human mobility have enhanced their knowledge and skills, enabling meaningful participation in policy-making and ensuring their voices are reflected in the declaration.

Read a blog: Youth Reflections 

To ensure meaningful youth engagement in the appropriate procedures and the various stages necessary to put the Kampala Declaration into action, IOM and US PRM brought together over 70 young persons from 36 African countries, who are interested in Human Mobility and Climate Change, for a youth engagement forum in Nairobi in August 2023. The goal was to improve their knowledge and understanding of the connection between migration, the environment, and climate change. During the event, the youth representatives planned, agreed upon and coordinated the development and implementation of the Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change beyond the East and Horn of Africa region.

The attendees took part in activities like a simulation exercise, a rapporteur system, group works and a plenary session. They worked together to restructure the key messages to reflect areas of concern, good practices and youth commitments in addressing climate-induced human mobility at a continental level. Selected regional youth representatives from the forum remained in Nairobi to attend the high-level technical conference of states. They made sure that the important messages and experiences of young people were heard and included in the expanded declaration.

Youth Key Messages: ENG | FR | AR | PT

Read a blog: 5 Key Take Aways from African Youth on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change | FR | AR

In order to ensure that the signatory states to the KDMECC fulfil their commitments, it is essential that youth are engaged through the appropriate processes and various steps that are required for advancing the Kampala Declaration.

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Read more about human mobility and its interlinkages;

• Glossary
• MECC in the East, Horn and Southern Africa Region
• Human Mobility in the UNFCCC process
• Human mobility in loss and damage discussions
• Human mobility and climate change adaptation
• Position paper of EHoA KDMECC parties