Nairobi - Ministers from governments across Africa have signed the continentally expanded Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC-AFRICA).     

The ministerial signing was held at the ongoing Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, and was officiated by the governments of Kenya and Uganda, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaboration Center for East and Southern Africa.    

In the run up to the signing, forty-eight African countries along with six of the African Regional Economic Communities and high-level representatives from the African Union Commission and the Governments of Uganda and Kenya convened in Nairobi on 23-25 August to develop and finalize the expanded declaration. It is geared towards developing an integrated approach and action-oriented framework to climate change induced human mobility across the Africa continent.     

Without efficient and sustained climate action, up to 105 million people could become internal migrants by 2050 in Africa alone (World Bank, Groundswell Report, 2021).     

IOM reaffirms its commitment to work hand in hand with Member States, communities and other organizations on effective and sustainable solutions for people who want to stay, for people on the move and for people who want or have to move because of the effects of climate change on the African continent.    

“With the historic signing of this Declaration, which is supported by IOM and the UNFCCC, countries across the African continent are demonstrating their collective leadership, commitment, and dedication to find solutions for everyone affected by climate change including young people, women and men,” said IOM Director General-Elect Amy Pope.     

IOM also hosted a Summit side event in partnership with the US Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to invite development partners and practitioners to support the implementation of programmes that address the challenges of climate-induced mobility.   

The side event was attended by John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, who announced USD 4 million funding to support solutions for people facing the climate crisis and to address climate mobility in Kenya.   

“The endorsement of the Kampala Declaration reflects the importance of addressing the challenges and opportunities of climate-induced mobility in practical and effective ways.” said COP 28 Director General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi.  

The KDMECC-AFRICA is a government-led, comprehensive and action-oriented framework that practically and effectively addresses climate-induced mobility and the needs, gaps and opportunities of human mobility, putting affected people at the heart of all twelve commitments in Africa.   

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For more media enquiries and information, please contact:    

In Nairobi: Yvonne Ndege, ronairobimcu@iom.int