E.g., 06/01/2026
E.g., 06/01/2026

Africa (sub-Saharan): All Activity

Cover image for Creating Inclusive Urban Economies for Migrants and Refugees
Reports
May 2026

Migrants and refugees make up notable shares of the workforce in many cities. By creating an environment in which they can find work, apply their skills, and thrive, urban areas can set themselves up to weather current and future economic changes, including the green and digital transitions. Drawing on a scan of city practices on four continents, this report examines the experiences and policy approaches of cities around the world.

First Displacement, then Disasters: How Refugees Contend with Climate Change
Multimedia
Thursday, April 9, 2026

Refugees are among the people most vulnerable to climate change. This episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast focuses on these impacts, with insights from Ayoo Irene Hellen, a South Sudanese refugee in Uganda and climate advocate. 

A crowd in Benin City, Nigeria. (Photo: IOM/Agara Barinedum)

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, sits at the crossroads of the continent’s migration landscape. As both a regional immigration hub and an origin for significant emigration, the country contends with a wide range of migration issues that have evolved over time. This country profile situates Nigeria's migration trends and policies.

A woman feeds chickens in Ethiopia's Gambella region.

Ethiopia's pioneering new approach to refugees, known as Makatet, focuses on inclusion and self-sufficiency by offering more refugees work permits, business licenses, and national identification cards. The approach could increase individuals' integration and reduce government costs. But questions remain about funding, implementation, and protection gaps for certain populations, as this article details.

River in Udaipur region during the dry season. Several families have lost their houses
Multimedia
Tuesday, January 27, 2026

This webinar focuses on how climate change is altering human mobility and offers insights into on-the-ground experiences of climate change and migration in East Africa, South Asia, and other global contexts.

Is Climate-Vulnerable Africa Prepared for Increased Displacement?
Multimedia
Monday, January 26, 2026

Africa may be the most climate-vulnerable region of the world. How prepared is the continent for a future of increased displacement? This episode of the Changing Climate, Changing Migration podcast speaks with Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo, a senior research consultant at the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies.

A doctor talks to a patient in Nigeria.

The time that immigrants and other diaspora members spend volunteering to support their homeland is rarely considered to be a measurable remittance. That oversight ignores the large value of these contributions, which can come from medical professionals, academics, and many others. This article explores the possibility of assigning a numeric value to these types of investments.

World of Migration Episode 23
Multimedia
Friday, January 9, 2026

Foreign aid budgets have been slashed significantly by governments in the United States, Europe, and beyond, raising questions about what humanitarian assistance will look like in practice. This episode of World of Migration with Micheal Gumisiriza, a program lead based in southwest Uganda for COHERE, an international NGO that works with refugee-led organizations, focuses on how funding cuts by international donors are being felt on the ground.

A woman receives a cash transfer in Sierra Leone.

Some countries with large diasporas have sought to maximize incoming remittances and channel them into particular sectors. Diaspora engagement policies are not always successful, but research shows that they are generally accompanied by increased remittance sending. This article explains the connection and explores some of the factors affecting remittance levels.

Cover image for Reframing Return and Reintegration
Policy Briefs
October 2025

Many migrant-origin countries are developing policies and institutional structures to support their returning nationals, driven by safety concerns, emergencies, and in some cases pressure from destination countries. This policy brief examines these developments and identifies opportunities to better align local services, national policies, and donor support to strengthen international cooperation on migrant returns and reintegration.

Young women outdoors.

Approximately 2.5 million sub-Saharan African immigrants lived in the United States in 2024—more than triple the number in 2000—with most coming from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, or South Africa. This article offers a range of information about this diverse group, which has higher educational attainment and English proficiency than the overall immigrant population, and tends to have higher income. 

A woman in Zimbabwe pushes a wheelbarrow.

When agricultural communities are displaced by conflict or the impacts of climate change, women often assume new roles as primary providers while men lose their traditional breadwinner status. This shift can create both opportunities and risks. This article details the dynamics, focusing on experiences in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

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