The policy consultation on “Prevention and Protection”, jointly organized by the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative (ACMI) and IOM, focuses on fostering the emergence of a critical policy ecosystem for addressing climate mobility in the African continent. While intensifying climate impacts threaten to make living conditions harder in many parts of Africa, people and communities often have deep attachments to their land and livelihoods and no intention to permanently leave even highly risky areas. Yet, the concern is that the progressive depletion of natural resources and people’s assets could transform situations of voluntary immobility (where people choose staying over moving) into either forced displacement – potentially due to conflict dynamics emerging in more fragile environments – or people becoming trapped in place (without a choice). Both outcomes mean greater vulnerability and the need for protection of the people affected.

The policy consultation examines the role of existing efforts and instruments for prevention, protection and facilitated mobility in addressing this complex dynamic. It aims to develop recommendations for policy and collaboration across sectors, geographies and levels of governance to preserve people’s agency in movement decisions, while crafting enabling frameworks that serve to strengthen the continent’s resilience in the face of the climate crisis