Changing climate, changing realities: migration in the Sahel Full report i British Red Cross Changing climate, changing realities: migration in the Sahel Acknowledgements T his report was written by Gabrielle Daoust, Yue Cao, Hussein M. Sulieman, Dansiné Diarra, Boukary Barry and Jim Jarvie.  This research was commissioned by the British Red Cross. ODI and the British Red Cross sincerely thank all those who contributed and made this research possible – in particular, all the individuals who shared their insights through survey participation, focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Sudan and Mali. In Sudan, particular thanks go to the Centre for Remote Sensing and GIS at the University of Gadarif, the director and staff of the Sudan Commission for Refugees and Sudan Humanitarian Aid in White Nile state and also the community leaders in Elfao, Elganaa and Dabat Bosin. In Mali, thanks go to Kéné Conseils and all those who contributed to the data collection in Bamako and Kayes. We extend our appreciation and thanks to the Mali Red Cross and Sudanese Red Crescent Society, as well as National Societies across the wider Sahel, for sharing their assistance, knowledge and insights. We express special thanks to the following people for their insights, contributions and comments on the report: Etienne Berges, Louiza Chekhar, Kouassi Dagawa, Georgie Vanner, Maria Twerda, Hugo Gimbernat Guerin, Joanna Moore, Adeline Siffert (British Red Cross), Nouhoum Maiga (Mali Red Cross), Eddie Jjemba (Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre), Karen Hargrave (Independent consultant), Sarah-Opitz Stapleton and Leigh Mayhew as contributors, Mauricio Vazquez and Caitlin Sturridge (ODI). National Societies participating in the research: Copyeditor: Rose Cowling  |  Design: vtype.co.uk Copyright 2022 British Red Cross  |  ODI redcross.org.uk | odi.org The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738), Isle of Man (0752), Jersey (430) and Guernsey (CH142). Front cover photo © IFRC/British Red Cross. Nigerian Red Cross volunteers supported flood evacuations and provided psychosocial support and first aid. ii Changing climate, changing realities: migration in the Sahel Photo © Yuki Sugiura/British Red Cross The Niger Red Cross supports people in the most vulnerable communities in Niger, on the frontline of climate change. British Red Cross iii Changing climate, changing realities: migration in the Sahel British Red Cross Abbreviations AU African Union ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EU European Union FGD Focus group discussion IDDRSI IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative IDMC Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development INDC Intended Nationally Determined Contribution IOM International Organization for Migration IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action NGO Non-governmental organisation PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper UN United Nations UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees iv Changing climate, changing realities: migration in the Sahel British Red Cross Executive summary T he Sahel region – the strip of land extending coast to coast from west to east Africa – has long-established patterns of human mobility, largely characterised by internal movement within countries or between countries. This mobility has acted as an important resilience strategy for people’s survival and a way to create new economic opportunities during times of both crisis and stability. Existing research suggests that climate-related changes and risks might contribute to pressures to move for some people while constraining possibilities for mobility for others. Following already significant transformations in the Sahel’s semi-arid to arid climate, projected changes in rainfall and temperature suggest that climate-related challenges may intensify further. Therefore, understanding the influence of climate change on mobility in the Sahel is an increasingly vital task. However, the evidence on the relationship between climate change and migration in the Sahel remains nascent, and the evidence far sparser than in