Nairobi – The Expert Working Group (EWG) who are supporting the implementation of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC) is meeting in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss climate finance mechanisms and priority activities for the implementation of the (KDMECC). The KDMECC was agreed in Kampala, Uganda in 2022 commits 11 countries in the East and Horn of Africa to address the challenges but also identify the opportunities of climate induced mobility in the region. The EWG includes climate and migration experts from the relevant Ministries of each signatory state as well as youth representatives from the region.

During the EWG meeting IOM will present a study on ‘Planning Considerations for a Financing Mechanism for Climate-Induced Human Mobility for Africa’. The study conducted by IOM, identifies the challenges that states experience in trying to access climate financing, and provides recommendations for fair, accessible and flexible financing to address climate mobility. EWG members and special guests from the climate financing sector will be asked to validate the findings. A proposed Youth Plan of Action designed by youth representatives in the EWG in collaboration with other young MECC advocates will also be presented for validation, to be taken forward by young people in the region.  

Climate migration is becoming a growing phenomenon in the East and Horn of Africa, with forced migration heightening already existing vulnerabilities in the region. As of November 2023, over three million people across Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Tanzania were affected by floods alone, leading to loss of lives, livelihoods, and displacement. Among these countries, Somalia was the hardest hit with 1.2 million displacements according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) East and Horn of Africa July – November flood snapshot.  

As mobility patterns are reshaped because of climate change, shared experiences, mutual interests, and multilateral efforts of States such as the KDMECC Expert Working Group, can incentivize decisive action at policy level. In the East and Horn of Africa KDMECC is addressing this link, in line with global policies such as the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.  The priority that leaders and governments in the region place this topic is evident in the collaborative efforts being made by signatory States, to implement the KDMECC.

This is the 4^th meeting of the EWG which has previously met to develop and finalize an in-depth assessment and a Plan of Action to guide its work in implementing the KDMECC.  

“There is a need for concrete action now more than ever to address the link between migration and climate change, acknowledging the distinct vulnerability of youth, children, and women in order reduce these devastating levels of forced mobility”. Lisa Lim Ah Ken, Regional Thematic Specialist on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC). 

After the meeting IOM will work with KDMECC signatory states to build their capacities in the specific priority actions they have identified, as well support them to access wider sources of climate funding.

For more media enquiries and information, please contact:    

Yvonne Ndege, ronairobimcu@iom.int