Why are we running this project?
Coastal cities in sub-Saharan Africa are exposed to high risks due to climate change and the dearth of official local data has historically impeded the ability of governments to improve the living conditions in cities. Cities have a special role to play as places of transit or destination for migrants and local policies and strategies have a major impact on the well-being of vulnerable groups. Based on the in-depth analysis of environmental mobility patterns and living conditions of migrants in cities in sub-Saharan Africa, the project aims at establishing a policy action plan at the neighborhood and city levels for addressing the needs of environmental migrants and their host communities.
What are our goals?
By generating knowledge and collecting data, affected cities and project partners will be able to better understand environmental mobility patterns in sub-Saharan Africa and develop strategies to improve the conditions of migrants through the active involvement of local communities in decision-making and planning processes.
How does the project work?
The research is conducted in the four cities Accra, Freetown, Dar es Salaam and Monrovia and will analyze local circumstances and the role and contributions of organized community groups in providing knowledge that helps to identify solutions from the perspective of local communities. The results of the in-depth analysis will lead to a policy action plan addressing environmental mobility in coastal cities. Results from the four studies will also help inform the strategies of other cities in the region with the purpose of scaling local-led approaches to addressing environmental mobility.
Who organizes and supports the project?
The project is implemented by The New School’s Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility in cooperation with the transnational network Slum Dwellers International and the partner research institutes International Institute for the Environment and Development (IIED) and Urban Systems Lab (USL).