Policy and Practice on Peace and Security Dynamics of Climate-Related Urban Migration in the Horn of Africa

Caroline Katuma, Life & Peace Institute (Kenya)
Martha Bakwesegha, Life & Peace Institute (Kenya)

As climate intensifies, urban areas are becoming critical yet underexamined sites of climate related mobility and environmental peacebuilding. This research work explores climate-related urban migration through comparative case studies in Kisumu, Kenya, and Baidoa, Somalia; two cities shaped by environmental stress, conflict dynamics and rapid informal urbanization. Drawing on community informed qualitative research, the study examines how flooding, drought and ecosystem degradation interact with inequality, governance gaps and livelihood precarity to shape migration decisions, urban vulnerabilities and social dynamics. The findings reveal how climate induced mobility both exacerbate urban pressures and generates locally grounded resilience and adaptation practices. The study argues for integrated environmental peacebuilding approaches that center urban contexts, amplify marginalized voices and link climate adaptation with inclusive urban governance and conflict-sensitive planning in fragile settings.