A Scoping Review of Climate Change and Internal Migration in Africa

Climate change is influencing many human activities and socioeconomic processes, including migration patterns within countries. Although extensive research exists on internal migration across numerous African contexts, the links between climate change and migration in rural and urban areas have not been thoroughly explored. This scoping review of selected studies examines this relationship throughout the region by analyzing existing research. Eight key themes emerge: types of climate change events and migration; climatic and environmental drivers of migration; migration’s direction, distance, and duration; migration destinations and origins; connections with migrant sending areas; gender, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors; vulnerability and adaptation; marginal environments and other settings; and environmental drivers related to household food security. The review also identifies gaps in the literature, including underexplored themes and neglected areas, and briefly discusses the policy implications of these findings.