Understanding the Linkages Between Migration, Environmental Degradation and Climate Change in Sri Lanka

Duration: 2 years (Sep 2020-Aug 2022)

Location: Sri Lanka

Funded by : IOM Development Fund

Lead Agency: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Partners: Ministry of Environment and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management

The MECC Joint Rapid Assessment – IOM, FAO and WFP Sri Lanka

The early findings and recommendations of the 2018 rapid assessment of IOM conducted by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (MECC) in Sri Lanka contributed to explore possible interventions in the field of Climate Change based on more evidence-based strategies and programming to assist migrant mobility in the context of disasters and climate change.

Understanding the Linkages between Migration, Environmental Degradation and Climate Change

Building upon the early findings of the Joint Rapid Assessment on MECC, the IOM Development Fund (IDF) in assisting IOM Sri Lanka’s efforts to implement a MECC project on ‘Understanding the Linkages between Migration, Environmental Degradation and Climate Change’ since September 2020 to August 2022, by liaising with the Ministry of Environment Sri Lanka.  

The first key component proposed by this project is to develop a sustainable road map to carry forward migration, environmental degradation, and climate change research findings in Sri Lanka to the next level of advocacy on related policy development, and also to conducting community integration project activities with a special focus on the empowerment of women in climate-resilient livelihood development.

Secondly, the planned research will lead to the publication of an in-depth research report that will enhance the understanding of the nexus between climate change and migration in Sri Lanka. IOM will ensure that the research findings will reach relevant policymakers to influence the inclusion of migration in development plans, climate change and disaster policy frameworks, and also inform long term targeted investments in rural development.

Furthermore, IOM ensures to provide comprehensive services at the institutional level which can influence the capacity of stakeholders to reduce disaster risk. At the community level, IOM promotes knowledge sharing, structural development, and direct beneficiary level assistance. IOM also considers disaster risk when designing and implementing any new projects, to ensure that it builds resilience and recognizes local vulnerabilities.  IOM will continue to promote the Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF) as a tool to enhance the Government’s preparedness and response capacity to migration crises and identify situations and conditions that, if left unmitigated, could lead to further crisis situations.

Building upon a series of training conducted for government officials in disaster-affected areas on Camp Coordination Camp Management (CCCM), for which IOM retains a global cluster lead, IOM will continue to sensitize actors and communities on key preparedness elements featured in CCCM training methodologies to enable quick response in the event of a disaster.

This project is line with IOM’s institutional objectives to prevent forced migration resulting from environmental factors and to support migrants and the Government to respond to new challenges associated with climate change and human mobility.

Activities:

Sri Lanka Knowledge Sharing Sessions on Migration, Environment and Climate Change

Contact:

Rangitha BALASURIYA, Senior Project Coordinator (MECC), IOM Sri Lanka RBALASURIYA@iom.int