Nairobi - On 22 August 2023, representatives from 46 African countries will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya for a three-day ‘Conference of States’ on the continental expansion of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC-AFRICA).  
 
Signed in July 2022, the first version of the KDMECC, championed by the Republic of Uganda, highlights 12 commitments by 11 countries to prioritize, respond to and galvanize global support to deal with the harsh impact of climate change on human mobility in the East and Horn of Africa.  
 
Since 2022, there has been a rapidly growing recognition and interest in the KDMECC across African governments, as the first Member State –led, comprehensive and action-oriented framework to address the challenges and identify the opportunities of climate-induced mobility in practical and effective ways. Through the coordination and development of a Continental Addendum, the expansion of the KDMECC will see 46 African countries deliberating on and finalising the new Declaration. 
 
Once finalised, the expanded Declaration will be known as the KDMECC-AFRICA and signed by African Ministers at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS), to be co-hosted by the Government of Kenya and African Union Commission in September. 
 
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be organising two side events during the ACS to mobilise financing and support for the implementation of the KDMECC-AFRICA. IOM in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaboration Center (RCC) for Eastern and Southern Africa are supporting the continental expansion and implementation of the KDMECC Continental Addendum and commit to working with African Member States in addressing challenges and opportunities for human mobility in the context of climate change across Africa. 
 
“Human mobility should be a fundamental pillar in climate change discussions,” states Ambassador Namira Negm, the Director of the African Union Migration Observatory and lead rapporteur for the conference. “African States recognize this reality and are taking further steps in that direction, including the move towards this continental expansion of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change.” 
 
In recognition that climate-change resilience and sustainable development cannot be conceived without considering human mobility in all its forms, the KDMECC-AFRICA will be the first continental framework to address climate change, while recognising the importance of facilitating migration for the benefit of both sending and receiving locations and states. 
 
The expansion of the Declaration communicates the urgency for action and prioritization of addressing human mobility and climate change nexus by the African Parties to the UNFCCC ahead of the upcoming COP 28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates in November. The expansion also demonstrates IOM’s commitment to building resilience to emerging environmental impacts and degradation through building multilateral partnerships, gathering a robust evidence base and enhancing the capacity of states to respond to climate change as outlined in its Strategic Vision. 
 
“The need to address human mobility in the context of climate and environmental change has increased in global importance and urgency,” explains Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa. “The Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change gives us the unprecedented opportunity to support Member State priorities in addressing the challenges whilst also leveraging migration for sustainable development.” 
 
For media enquiries and information, please contact: Yvonne Ndege, Media & Communication Unit, IOM Regional Office Nairobi, Mob: +254797735977 email: yndege@iom.int or ronairobimcu@iom.int