The universal human desire for a harmonious life lived out across an average span of 70 years, is increasingly challenged by a confluence of natural and human-made crises. Nowhere is this struggle more acutely felt than in the Horn of Africa, where a complex web of conflict, climate change, and related factors is upending lives and forcing millions from their homes.
Statistics reveal the depth of this crisis: for every 14 people in the Horn of Africa, at least one is displaced from their hometown. This massive demographic shift is increasingly manifesting as an urban phenomenon, according to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Displacement and migration are no longer solely rural issues; they are reshaping the very fabric of cities and towns across the IGAD region. This includes a diverse flow of people: individuals moving from rural areas to urban centers, cross-border labor migrants, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees all are converging on urban hubs.
While this unprecedented influx presents potential opportunities, it also poses immense challenges to urban development and stability. City authorities, often grappling with a myriad of existing priorities and resource constraints, find themselves ill-equipped to handle the sudden surge of displaced households and increased rural-to-urban migration. Many cities in the Horn of Africa are already contending with rapid demographic growth and severe inequalities.
They face a critical shortage of financial and technical capacity to provide adequate basic socio-economic services, such as healthcare, education, and sanitation, let alone affordable housing for their burgeoning populations. Compounding this issue is the fact that national government budget allocations frequently fail to account for the additional population figures driven by displacement and migration, leaving urban centers further strained.
Recognizing the urgency of this multifaceted challenge, the 4th IGAD Scientific Conference on Migration, Displacement, and Urbanization: Implications for Sustainable Development was held recently in Addis Ababa. The conference served as a vital platform for experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to deliberate on strategies and solutions to mitigate the impacts of forced displacement and foster sustainable urban development in a region facing profound demographic and environmental shifts.
The discussions underscored the critical need for integrated approaches that consider the unique needs of displaced populations within urban planning, ensuring a more resilient and equitable future for all residents of the Horn of Africa.
Abebew Bihonegn, IGAD Head of Mission to Ethiopia, in his remark, highlighted the intertwined challenges of human mobility and urban growth within the IGAD region.
He emphasized that the movement of people, whether voluntary or forced, continuously shapes cities, economies, and societies. The rapid scale and complexity of migration and displacement, combined with swift urbanization, create opportunities and significant challenges. Key drivers such as climate change, conflict, economic inequality, and demographic shifts compel millions to seek new locations for safety, opportunity, and dignity.
Consequently, cities across IGAD member states are expanding, increasing the demand for sustainable infrastructure, inclusive policies, and equitable access to services. Abebew stressed that the region’s response to these dynamics would significantly define the future of urban life, regional development, and human rights.
He noted that the IGAD region is experiencing substantial migration movements, which are reshaping its demographics. Cross-border and intranational movements are crucial livelihood strategies, especially during ecological and economic hardships. He identified lack of employment, deteriorating political, socio-economic, and environmental conditions, armed conflict, insecurity, and poverty as primary drivers of migration and forced displacement.
Urban areas are particularly affected, often accommodating large populations under immense pressure while striving for social cohesion, efficient service delivery, and sustainable development.
Regarding IGAD’s role in regional integration and support Abebew, said that as a key regional economic community in Africa, IGAD is mandated to promote regional integration and economic development.
He explained that IGAD supports its member states in developing policies that facilitate the meaningful participation and representation of migrants and displaced people in policymaking, fostering intergenerational conversations and networking to strengthen societal resilience.
Finally, he described the conference as a vital regional platform for evidence-based dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation, designed to bridge the policy-implementation gap by connecting research and policy.
Mohamed stressed that how these changes are addressed will define the future of urban life, regional development, and human rights.
He reinforced IGAD’s mandate in regional integration and development, explaining its support to member states in facilitating the participation of migrants and displaced people in policymaking and program implementation.
Mohamed believed that the 4th conference serves as a crucial platform for evidence generation, knowledge sharing, coordination, and collaboration, building upon previous conferences to bridge policy and program implementation gaps.
He anticipated that the conference would identify institutional and individual capacity gaps in migration and displacement, leading to insights and recommendations for sustainable solutions.
Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of IGAD reiterated that the movement of people, driven by conflict, poverty, and climate change, is a daily phenomenon in the IGAD region.
He underscored climate change, conflict, economic inequality, and demographic shifts as key drivers, noting that the IGAD region is both a source and host to significant refugee populations.
He emphasized that urbanization, if carefully planned, presents an opportunity, to acknowledge the growing need for sustainable infrastructure, inclusive policies, and equitable access to resources and services in expanding cities.
The conference served as a platform for countries to share their experiences and ongoing work on migration. Partners like UNHCR also presented the multifaceted challenges facing the region. The aim is to solve problems and strengthen current efforts.
Overall, the challenges posed by displacement and rapid urbanization in the Horn of Africa are significant and complex, demanding integrated and collaborative solutions. The recent IGAD Scientific Conference underscored the urgency of addressing these issues with a focus on sustainable urban development and the meaningful inclusion of displaced populations. By fostering evidence-based dialogue, strengthening regional cooperation, and bridging the gap between policy and implementation, the Horn of Africa can pave the way for more resilient cities and a more secure future for all its inhabitants, ensuring that the innate human aspiration for a stable and fulfilling life is not merely a dream, but a lived reality.
BY EYUEL KIFLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025
