Event Participants
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, has launched a landmark initiative aimed at tackling the root causes of climate-induced migration in the country’s rural communities.
The project, titled “Addressing the Adverse Climate-Related Drivers of Migration for Rural Communities in The Gambia,” is funded by the IOM Development Fund. It seeks to enhance the resilience of communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which officials say is a growing driver of internal displacement and rural-urban migration.
At the official launch, stakeholders underscored the urgency of providing rural populations with the tools, knowledge, and resources to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable environment. The initiative focuses on promoting sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural practices, restoring degraded ecosystems, and creating viable livelihoods that can reduce the pressures leading to migration.
This project represents a transformative step toward building climate resilience at the grassroots level, and it is aimed to ensure that rural Gambians are not forced to leave their homes in search of survival.
The collaboration comes amid rising concerns over the long-term impact of climate change on food security, employment, and migration trends across West Africa.