Water as a Precursor for Youth Mobility

Since the dawn of human existence, water has been and is still a vital natural resource, influencing where we live, supporting basic human needs, and maintaining ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. Water is not only critical for the ecosystem but is also essential for economic and social development; employment and decent jobs across the globe. Water is key as it touches every form of development, and it is linked to nearly every Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Water security is affected by climate impacts and over 90% of the disasters are water-related which intersect with other phenomena such as shrinking natural resources.

These phenomena jeopardize socio-economic stability, international peace, human wellbeing, and other aspects of life for various population groupings who may see human mobility as the solution. There are currently about 281 million international migrants in the world, which represents 3.6 per cent of the global population. The interplay between water and migration is being enacted sadly in the shadow of conflicts in some regions of the world for instance, in the Middle East and North Africa, which are the most water-scarce regions in the world and home to 7.2 million refugees and 10.5 million internally displaced people. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the impacts of climate change on communities and natural resources are expected to cost the African continent US$50 billion by 2040, with a further 30% shrinkage in combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between now and 2050 with similar consequences also projected to happen in other continents. Various forms of human mobility exist, as do the reasons why people move; in this blog, however, the focus is on environmental migration and youth. Across the world, environmental-induced migration usually manifests in the face of climate change impacts or disasters caused by natural hazards with serious consequences, particularly on water availability, quantity and quality which in turn impact human habitat and ecosystem functionality.

Water is vital for human survival, essential for economic development, food production, ecosystem health, and function. When water is sufficiently available, it can encourage people especially the youth to settle; if too much (floods) or too little (drought), it can result in many and repeated disasters that have the potential to amplify societal problems for example poverty, civil wars, diseases, migration and displacement among others. In situations of water scarcity, food security may be jeopardized, which in turn can trigger mobility of people either as forced or voluntary in search of areas with more water, as well as other aspects, such as political stability, economic strength, and job opportunities. Water can be both a push and a pull factor for human mobility, and if denied or prevented, can amplify environmental vulnerability and human insecurity. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR 2016 report), there exists a strong nexus between water and jobs, known as ‘water jobs’ (manufacturing industries, infrastructure, agriculture, fishing, power plants, mining, among others); all of these ‘water jobs’ require a workforce, and this is mainly sourced from the young population. As water is becoming variable in both quality and quantity, a consequence that is affecting the sustainability of “water jobs” and water livelihood dependents, youth are becoming unemployed and are in search of other livelihood opportunities elsewhere. It is worth noting that while these young people are on move in search for better livelihoods, they are still vulnerable to other environmental hazards, and thus, there is a need for protection and assistance to be provided with disaster risk reduction measures for example through early warning systems.

Ways to mitigate the consequences of water-related issues on youth mobility

• Addressing the root causes of water issues and youth mobility, such as poverty, inequality, conflict, and climate change, by implementing policies and programs that foster sustainable development, human rights, peace, and justice.
• Supporting the rights and needs of young people who move because of water issues, by providing them with adequate information, education, health, protection, and opportunities, and by facilitating their integration and participation in their new communities.
• Empowering young people as agents of change, by recognizing their potential and contributions, and by enhancing their capacities and skills to cope with water issues and to advocate for water justice.

About the Author:

Peter Wasswa is a Ugandan, holds an MSc in Hydrology from the Institute for Water Research of Rhodes University-South Africa. He also holds a BSc in Meteorology from Makerere University and a Diploma in Meteorology from National Meteorological Training School-Entebbe (Uganda). He is currently the YHS-National Representative for Uganda and also a River Rescue member where his interests lie in finding sustainable solutions to conserve water resources for both human beings and ecosystem functionality. He supported the African Climate Mobility Initiative (ACMI) at Deltares-Netherlands to understand migration patterns and groundwater abstraction in Africa. His latest blog: ‘Is it the right time for Makhanda to embrace the Dutch way or forget about achieving SDG6 by 2030?’[Is it the right time for Makhanda to embrace the Dutch way or forget about achieving SDG6 by 2030? | River Rescue], has inspired many, not only in South Africa but also in other parts of the world. Peter also won a bronze medal at Water4Future Hackathon 2023, Montpellier-France, for an outstanding innovative idea.

This article is part of the IOM Blog Series: Youth Voices on Migration, Environment and Climate Change