Livelihood Security: Climate change, conflict and migration in - UNEP

water resources management, and the mobility of
people and their belongings, including cross-border
transhumance.
To date, this lack of effective national and locallevel
natural resource governance has undermined
the development of effective responses to changing
climatic conditions. Likewise, the disconnect
between customary and statutory laws and institutions
could further challenge the development of
sustainable adaptation policies in the region, as
discussed in more detail in chapter 5. 67
However, a number of regional governance initiatives
have recently been adopted that hold promise
for addressing the challenges posed by climate
change in a more coherent and harmonized way.
For example, the Africa Ministerial Conference of
Environment Ministers (AMCEN) highlighted the challenges
faced by the continent as a result of climate
change in the Joint Statement resulting from its 12th
session held in 2008, 68 while the Economic Com-
22
munity of West African States (ECOWAS) recently
committed to adopting a new regional programme
of action to reduce vulnerability to climate change
in West Africa. 69 The African Union, finally, adopted
a policy framework for pastoralism in Africa in 2011,
aiming to “secure, protect and improve the lives,
livelihoods and rights of African pastoralists” while
also recognizing the role such a policy could have
on consolidating peace and security. 70
2.5 Migration in the region
A way of life for farmers, herders and
fishermen
Seasonal and circular migration can be considered
as traditional positive adaptation strategies to climate
variability in the region. 71,72 Herders typically
graze their livestock in the North during the wet
season and move South during the dry months. 73
The Fulani ethnic group in West Africa, for example,
have long used migration and the nomadic herd-
Seasonal migration of herders and their livestock is a traditional livelihood strategy in the Sahel. However,
droughts and changes in rainfall have modified these traditional movements
Livelihood Security: Climate Change, Migration and Conflict in the Sahel
© UN Photo/John Isaac