ECOWAS steps up regional efforts to address climate-induced migration

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened a regional meeting to strengthen cooperation among member states on migration linked to climate change and environmental degradation.

The three-day meeting, held in Abuja from October 27 to 29, brought together representatives of member states, ECOWAS institutions, development partners and youth groups.

It was organised by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism under the Migration Dialogue for West Africa (MIDWA) Thematic Working Group on Climate Change, Land Degradation, Desertification, Environment and Migration.

The meeting sought to advance practical regional responses to human mobility arising from climate change and environmental degradation.

It builds on the reactivation of the thematic working group in 2025 and subsequent efforts by the regional bloc to incorporate human mobility into its climate and migration policies.

Participants are also working to develop a 2027–2028 work plan to guide the group's activities and identify priorities for supporting member states in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The discussions further focused on how ECOWAS could support countries in developing or revising their National Adaptation Plans.

Another key issue was the feasibility of developing a regional Green Climate Fund project or readiness proposal to support climate-related migration interventions across West Africa.