Chapter 6: Climate-induced Displacement and Migration in ECOWAS: The Gendered Dimension of Livelihood and Financial Resilience

Climate-induced migration is an alternative for individuals who are incapable of coping with the environmental and social implications of climate change. Most individuals experience climate-induced displacement because of first-hand suffering from severe weather conditions as well as other consequences such as food shortages and competition over the earth's resources. This study investigates the livelihood and financial resilience of climate-induced displaced persons in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations, focusing on Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, and Togo. The study shows a thorough grasp of how climate change exacerbates inequality and worsens pre-existing gender disparities, limiting women and girls’ possession of resources and decision-making and impeding their capacity to cushion the effects of climate change and recover from disasters. It makes the case that there is variation by gender among people displaced by climate change; based on livelihood and financial resilience's adaptive and absorptive capacities, women have the fewest opportunities to obtain knowledge and resources related to climate resilience and adaptation. It offers practical advice for creating a more resilient and equitable future and concludes that the livelihood resilience of households that have been displaced by climate change may be improved through proper governance in the financial transformation process. It advocates for a gender-transformative strategy that centres climate policy alternatives on women and girls.