Session 5.2

Climate change has become a leading factor influencing internal migration and livelihood disruptions in Nigeria, particularly among rural farming communities. This study investigates the intersection of climate variability, forced migration, and agricultural vulnerability in Iyanfoworogi, a farming community in Southwestern Nigeria. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates 40 years (1984–2018) of climatic data from NASA’s POWER database with qualitative insights from smallholder farmers, agricultural marketers, and policymakers. Findings reveal increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and prolonged dry spells, which have destabilized farming cycles and reduced agricultural productivity. These disruptions have pushed many farmers—especially younger, economically active males—to migrate to urban and peri-urban areas in search of alternative livelihoods. Conversely, many residents remain immobile due to economic constraints, strong social ties, or cultural obligations, despite increasing hardship.

Adaptation strategies observed among immobile populations include short-term adjustments such as mixed cropping and drought-resistant crops, alongside spiritual (faith-based) coping mechanisms. However, these are increasingly undermined by external pressures such as urban expansion,

population growth, and the destructive activities of nomadic herders. A significant gap exists between policy and practice: while climate-smart policies exist in theory, most smallholders lack access to financial resources, technology, and institutional support.

This presentation contributes to the discourse on climate-driven migration by highlighting the nuanced reality of both movement and immobility, calling for integrated, community-specific strategies that strengthen resilience in vulnerable rural populations.

Adverse climate changes increasingly cause natural disasters that lead to human migration, both within and across countries. Ethiopia, in East Africa, faces a growing challenge of climate vulnerability. Recent times have seen a rise in the frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters. The primary types of disasters in the country are droughts and floods, which pose a significant threat to food security, water resources, livelihoods, and overall socioeconomic stability. This research explores the complex issue of internal displacement in Borena, in southern Ethiopia, focusing on the climatic and socio-economic factors that drive the displacement of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities. Prolonged droughts, caused by consecutive failed seasonal rains, have resulted in severe shortages of food and water, leading to widespread livestock loss and forcing communities to move.  Many displaced people settle along roadsides and near towns, where makeshift shelters originally intended to be temporary have become de facto permanent homes, lacking access to sufficient basic services. This worsens their vulnerability and hampers their ability to rebuild livelihoods.

The study is grounded in empirical data collected through a mixed-methods approach, including structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with displaced community members and relevant stakeholders in Borena. These qualitative and quantitative tools provide rich understandings into the lived experiences of displacement, the socio-cultural dynamics of adaptation, and the aspirations of affected populations. The findings reveal that while displacement is often framed as a temporary response to environmental stress, in practice it leads to long-term transformations in settlement patterns, livelihood strategies, and community structures. Many displaced households express hesitancy to return to their original lands, having suffered a complete loss of their livelihoods. Instead, they prefer to remain near towns, where they hope to access better services and opportunities for rebuilding their lives.

In conclusion, the case of Borena illustrates the multifaceted nature of climate-induced displacement and the need for holistic, inclusive, and forward-looking responses. As climate change continues to reshape human geography and challenge traditional livelihood systems, understanding and addressing the root causes of displacement becomes increasingly critical. This research offers valuable understandings into the lived realities of displaced pastoralist communities in southern Ethiopia and provides a foundation for designing interventions that are both responsive to immediate needs and conducive to long-term resilience and recovery.

Keywords: Ethiopia, internal displacement, prolonged drought, pastoralist.