International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) have launched a major regional initiative aimed at helping Southern African countries better prepare for and respond to the growing threat of climate-induced displacement, as increasingly severe cyclones, floods and droughts continue to force hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

The new programme, unveiled in Malawi, comes amid mounting concern over the escalating humanitarian consequences of climate change across Sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people are being displaced each year by extreme weather events.

Humanitarian agencies warn that climate shocks are no longer isolated emergencies but recurring crises that are undermining livelihoods, damaging infrastructure and placing enormous pressure on governments already grappling with economic and development challenges.

The Regional Responses to Climate Displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa (RE2CLID) Programme aims to improve countries’ ability to anticipate displacement risks before disasters strike, improve early warning and forecasting systems, increase preparedness, and integrate climate-related mobility into long-term development and disaster risk reduction strategies.

According to IOM, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded approximately 17.3 million internal displacement movements in 2025, with 2.9 million directly linked to disasters.

Southern Africa has emerged as one of the continent’s most climate-vulnerable regions, experiencing repeated tropical cyclones, destructive floods and prolonged droughts that continue to devastate communities.

During the 2024–2025 cyclone season alone, more than 826,000 displacement movements were recorded across Southern Africa, highlighting the growing scale of climate-related migration and the urgent need for coordinated regional action.

The program will initially target nations in the Southern Africa and South-West Indian Ocean (SAIO) cluster, which includes the Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, and Seychelles. In recent years, these countries have seen recurrent climate shocks that have damaged homes, affected agricultural production, dislocated people, and put a burden on already limited public resources.

IOM Chief of Mission in Malawi, Fatma Said, stressed that climate displacement is no longer a future concern but an everyday reality confronting communities throughout the region.

“Families are losing homes, livelihoods and, in some cases, the ability to remain where they have lived for generations. This programme will help governments and communities better anticipate displacement risks, strengthen preparedness and take action before people are forced to move.”
Fatma Said

Humanitarian experts believe that investment in preventive and preparedness is becoming increasingly crucial as climate catastrophes become more frequent and severe.

Rather than responding solely when disasters occur, the RE2CLID Programme seeks to enhance resilience by assisting governments in identifying vulnerable communities, improving planning, and developing long-term solutions to reduce displacement risks.

The initiative will also strengthen climate data collection and forecasting systems, enabling authorities to make more informed decisions before emergencies escalate. By incorporating displacement risks into national climate adaptation strategies, governments hope to reduce the humanitarian and economic costs associated with repeated disasters.

Beyond emergency preparedness, the programme seeks to improve coordination among governments, humanitarian agencies and development partners to ensure climate mobility is addressed as part of broader sustainable development efforts.

Regional Cooperation Shapes New Climate Resilience Strategy

A central feature of the RE2CLID Programme is its emphasis on collaboration across national borders, recognising that climate-induced displacement increasingly affects multiple countries simultaneously and requires coordinated regional responses.

Implementation will involve close cooperation with national ministries, government departments, district councils and traditional authorities, while regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) will support joint planning, knowledge sharing and policy coordination.

By strengthening partnerships between governments and regional institutions, programme organisers hope participating countries can develop harmonised approaches to managing climate-related mobility while improving disaster preparedness throughout Southern Africa.

The programme also places communities at the centre of climate resilience planning, recognising that those directly affected by disasters possess valuable experience and knowledge that should inform future interventions.

According to Modestar Stoken, a community spokesperson from Malawi’s Mangochi District, “the floods were far worse than anything we had experienced before.”

“Many families lost their homes and can no longer return to where they once lived. We are grateful to have been allocated land to start again, but we still need support to rebuild our lives.”
Modestar Stoken

The RE2CLID Programme seeks to address these longer-term challenges by supporting governments and local authorities in integrating displacement risks into development planning, climate adaptation policies and disaster risk reduction frameworks.

Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Patricia Wiskes, added that “the government of Malawi recognizes the urgency of addressing climate-induced displacement as part of our broader efforts to strengthen resilience and support sustainable development.”

“The RE2CLID Programme provides an important opportunity to better understand displacement risks and strengthen our capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to them.”
Patricia Wiskes

The European Union also highlighted the importance of linking scientific evidence, financing and practical implementation to improve disaster preparedness across the region.

According to H.E. Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, “the RE2CLID Programme reflects the European Union’s commitment to building climate resilience by working closely with national institutions and local communities.”

“By linking data, financing and implementation, the programme addresses a critical gap in current climate and disaster response systems related to climate-induced displacement.”
H.E. Daniel Aristi Gaztelumendi

Humanitarian agencies caution that displacement is likely to become a major issue for both governments and communities as climate change continues to exacerbate weather extremes throughout Southern Africa.