Displacement, climate change and social cohesion: Exploring loss and damage dynamics

Policy and research are increasingly engaging with climate-related displacement and its effects, and dimensions of non-economic losses and damages are beginning to emerge in the latest science. Specifically, there are diverse impacts on social cohesion, including loss of social cohesion with potential negative effects at community, household, and individual levels. These include loss of identity and cultural practices, loss of community cohesion, loss of informal social safety nets, and negative impacts to well-being more broadly.

These impacts include non-economic losses with potentially severe and long-lasting consequences, yet they are not well understood. This study therefore provides an exploratory assessment of dynamics between climate displacement and potential negative or positive impacts on social cohesion, with particular focus on elements of loss and damage. Specifically, it examines:

1. The relationship between climate-related displacement and social cohesion at individual, household, and community levels;
2. Specific factors/mechanisms through which social cohesion is affected;
3. Differentiated impacts of loss of social cohesion across households/groups (age, gender, income groups, etc.)
     

The relationship between climate displacement and social cohesion is examined in northern Ghana and western Niger:

• In Northern Ghana, localized floodings are becoming increasingly common, linked to extreme rainfall. They are driving recurring, short-term displacements, as well as dynamics of forced mobility and immobility. In this setting, the study will thus consider potential loss of social cohesion in relation to (1) recurring displacements, (2) forced im/mobility, and (2) sending areas.
• In Tillabéri, Niger, a significant number of people are experiencing longer term displacement due to conflict and security issues as well as climate stress and extreme events. In some cases, displaced persons have experienced secondary displacements, where they are displaced again after an initial displacement. In addition, there have been issues of tensions in displaced receiving areas between displaced and host populations. In this setting, the study will focus on (1) secondary displacements, (2) issues of conflict/security, and (3) receiving areas.

This research-based policy study is a cooperation between the following partners:

• Danish Institute for International Studies – Including DIIS staff and external partner Dr. Francis Jarawura, a Senior Lecturer at SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Wa, Ghana
• Danish Red Cross and Niger Red Cross Staff and Volunteer

The study will run from 2023 to early 2024.

A policy brief with main findings will be made available in 2023, and a full report will be available in 2024. Findings will also be shared through a public event in 2024.