IOM has awarded two youth-led groups in Kenya and Burundi grants to develop local solutions that strengthen resilience, address climate mobility and help vulnerable communities adapt to displacement risks.
The International Organization for Migration is funding two youth-led organisations in Kenya and Burundi to roll out local solutions to climate-driven mobility, awarding each a grant of 15,000 dollars for community-based initiatives.
The support comes under the “Accelerating Youth-Led Action in Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa” programme, part of the Climate Change and Migration Data Programme. The initiative is backed by Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is designed to empower young leaders to develop and implement locally relevant responses to climate-induced migration.
One of the selected projects centres on strengthening community resilience through agroecology and nature-based solutions. By promoting sustainable land use and restoring ecosystems, the initiative aims to ease climate-related pressures on livelihoods and help communities adapt locally, reducing the need for displacement.
The second project, titled “The Resilient Pathways: Empowering Communities Amid Climate Mobility,” focuses on building community capacity to respond to environmental stress and the impacts of climate change on human mobility. It adopts a cross-cutting approach, equipping communities with tools, knowledge and strategies to manage risks linked to displacement, migration and livelihood insecurity.
The youth-led interventions highlight IOM’s push to advance local leadership and innovative approaches across East, Horn and Southern Africa. Both projects will be supported by monitoring and learning systems to assess impact and share lessons with countries facing similar climate mobility challenges.
By investing in youth-driven initiatives, IOM aims to strengthen community resilience while addressing the growing links between climate change and human mobility across Africa.
