Research by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) influences stakeholders in Pakistan to integrate climate migration into policy and programs.
In the face of escalating climate crises, Pakistan confronts an urgent need to address displacement. Severe events like the 2022 floods have amplified vulnerabilities, displacing millions and straining host communities. IWMI’s research under the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration, in partnership with government and civil society, quantified challenges faced by migrants and host populations in Rahim Yar Khan, southern Punjab. This work influenced stakeholders to recommend integrating climate-migration dynamics into curricula, emergency response training, and disaster management plans.
Pakistan faces a growing crisis of climate-induced displacement, with recurrent floods and droughts devastating livelihoods and forcing vulnerable populations to migrate or face internal displacement. Women and children disproportionately bear the brunt of these challenges, grappling with food insecurity, poor sanitation, and heightened health risks. Despite the severity of the issue, limited data on climate displacement/migration trends and lack of actionable policies have hampered effective responses.
Recognizing the growing urgency, IMWI, under the FCM initiative, set out to address this gap. The objective was to generate evidence-based insights to inform inclusive policies and adaptive strategies at both provincial and local levels to support vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. The FCM initiative aims to strengthen anticipatory action and governance to mitigate impacts of compound crises, while generating evidence on effective policies and programming. The focus is on collaborating with governments and partners to generate evidence on effective policies and programming before, during, and after crises. To achieve this, IMWI carried out a study on the socio-economic impacts of climate-induced migration in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) district. The research entailed a sex-disaggregated survey with climate migrant/displaced communities to understand gendered vulnerabilities during disasters. This was complemented with Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with climate migrant communities and stakeholders working on disaster management. Additionally, the team analyzed data from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to develop a Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) for RYK to quantify the district’s vulnerabilities.
This study has provided us all with food for thought. Previously, I thought there were no major issues in Rahim Yar Khan related to migrant or displacement communities. Still, I see many problems that need addressing to help these vulnerable communities. These findings can help feed into district disaster management plans and national strategies. — Mr. Faisal Fareed, former Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Punjab
The study uncovered stark disparities: nearly 90% of surveyed households reported moderate to severe food insecurity, while almost half lacked access to clean water. Women and girls were disproportionately affected, experiencing higher levels of food and water insecurity and greater exposure to waterborne diseases. The findings also revealed significant disparities in ownership of and access to digital technologies like mobile phones and social media platforms, hindering equitable dissemination of early flood warnings. These disparities are particularly pronounced among women, as social and cultural barriers often prevent them from owning or using such technologies. This digital divide limits women’s ability to receive timely information about impending disasters and curtails their participation in decision-making processes and resilience-building activities. These findings underscore the need for gender-responsive, inclusive solutions.
To drive this change, IWMI organized a multi-stakeholder workshop that brought together government officials, researchers from local universities, civil society representatives, and development partners. The workshop catalyzed several key outcomes:
- Policy Planning: Mr. Faisal Fareed, former Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Punjab, acknowledged the study’s impact on his understanding of climate migration. He proposed incorporating the findings into district disaster management plans and national strategies, marking a shift in policy discourse.
- Enhanced Disaster Management: Officials from Rescue 1122, Punjab’s emergency services organization, highlighted opportunities to integrate IWMI’s findings into existing community training modules for their Community Safety Program and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) across Punjab. This collaboration would strengthen the CERT initiative by aligning it with localized climate migration challenges.
- Educational Integration: Researchers from local universities, including Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology (KFUEIT) and the Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, recommended integrating climate-migration dynamics into educational curricula. This step is vital for equipping future generations with the knowledge to tackle climate migration challenges.
IWMI’s research has facilitated data-driven dialogue and fostered partnerships, emphasizing the importance of inclusive approaches that elevate marginalized voices, particularly those of women. These developments demonstrate the potential for research-driven pathways to address Pakistan’s climate crises and digital inequality, representing a pivotal step towards adaptive solutions for climate migration.
