World Refugee Day Reflections: Climate Adaptation and Economic Integration in Africa

I recently contributed thoughts to the FT's Sustainable Views article 'Freedom of Movement Can Offer Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Africa'. I found myself returning to this topic today as we mark World Refugee Day, a day on which we not only highlight the plight of refugees but also honour their courage, voice, and agency. As Amela Koluder reminds us

"A refugee is someone who survived and who can create the future."

Projections paint a stark picture of the future, with an increase in heatwaves and a significant rise in internal climate refugees. By 2050, we could see a staggering 86 million displaced people in sub-Saharan Africa alone. These are not just numbers but people who will need to forge new futures on our continent.?

So, as we recognize the strength of refugees worldwide, we must also address the intertwined challenges of climate-related migration, adaptation and economic integration in Africa - and explore how we can help people rebuild more effectively.

Climate-Related Migration Challenges in Africa?

Climate change pushes more people to migrate within Africa, often exacerbated by resource and political conflict. These displaced people face significant financial and emotional setbacks, and receiving countries need robust economic and social support systems to help them rebuild.?

Where possible, maintaining cultural and social ties within the continent can aid community cohesion and collective adaptation, but more is needed.

Beyond freedom to move, comprehensive support is essential to ensure displaced populations find safety, productive employment, and shelter in less vulnerable areas. Few economies on the continent can provide this. Consider that the GDP per capita in the vast majority of African countries is under $3,000.?

Free Trade as an Enabler of Effective Adaptation

Advancing freedom of trade under the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) is an effective and beneficial step toward helping climate-vulnerable populations adapt to climate change and even avert forced migration.

Access to financial tools and livelihood resources (drought-resilient seeds, adaptive building and farming equipment and supplies, etc.) is hampered by the costs of moving goods across the continent and the fragmentation of African markets.?Consolidated and larger economic markets can enhance adaptive capacity, making communities more resilient. Larger economies would also be better able to absorb climate refugees.?

Improved trade can also grow the green economy and create green-collar jobs, contributing to broader economic and political stability. It's a "both/and" situation where free trade and movement can jointly support climate adaptation and migration.?

Leveraging Freedom of Movement

Africa is notorious for being difficult to navigate for Africans due to its challenging and expensive?visa regimes.?

Beyond the movement of people seeking refuge, freedom of movement could enable African climate adaptation technical experts to work where their skills are needed most. Freedom of movement would facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and best practices across borders.

There are already promising examples, like ECOWAS' regional cooperation on climate projects and the EAC's provisions for pastoralists. However, due to global demand, retaining this climate tech talent within Africa may prove challenging.

Implementation Challenges

Implementing these ideas requires significant political will, financial means, infrastructure investment, and citizen engagement.?

Social acceptance and cohesion are crucial for integrating migrants into communities, whether they are skilled professionals or climate-displaced individuals. One thing is sure: on the African continent, there is still significant work to do to ensure that host countries have the resources to support those recovering from considerable climate trauma.

Questions Worth Answering

The imperative to ensure that refugees have the right to seek safety, build their economic security and be socially included is clear. The "how" is unclear, and many questions deserve deeper consideration in mainstream conversation, including;

- How do we build the economic means and social infrastructure to receive displaced populations within the African continent?

- Are we doing enough to support people in adapting to current climate conditions where they are?

In closing?

We live in complex times that call for a move from silos to a transdisciplinary approach to some of the day's most pressing issues.

As we mark World Refugee Day, it is no surprise that it is hard to do so without considering the climate crisis, financial resilience, economic policy on trade and movement, resource scarcity-driven conflict, and more. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, I hope we all lean in and weigh in with our respective expertise to build a more resilient future for all.

And lest we forget

No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.' – Warsan Shire, Poem 'Home'"

#WorldRefugeeDay #ClimateAction #AfCFTA #Sustainability #EconomicIntegration #FreedomOfMovement #ClimateAdaptation #GreenJobs #Africa

About the Author:

Buhle Goslar is a fintech entrepreneur focused on building and supporting technology solutions for consumer empowerment, financial inclusion, and inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.?Buhle is the Chairperson and Independent Non-Executive Director of Lula, a South African SME digital bank. She is also a Board Director of the catalytic agri-capital platform Aceli Africa,?and the World Bank's financial inclusion think tank CGAP.?

Opinions are her own.

Recommended Reading :

• Sustainable Views, Freedom of movement can offer solutions for climate adaptation?in Africa - David Whitehouse .
• The World Bank,?Groundswell Report.?