Farming is an important livelihood and significant contributor to employment and food security in rural parts of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. But climate change is increasingly shaping the viability of rural livelihoods in NENA countries. The region is becoming hotter and drier, and countries in both the Near East and North Africa have experienced prolonged periods of drought with devastating consequences for livelihoods and food security. Migration is already recognized as an important adaptation strategy to changing climate and environmental conditions. Yet, to date, there has not been a comprehensive review of the nexus between climate change, rural livelihoods and migration and the implications of migration for adaptation in NENA countries. Understanding these dynamics and relationships is important for implementing the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) vision on migration and rural development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. This report reviews evidence on the climate–livelihoods–migration nexus in the NENA region, identifies knowledge gaps and makes suggestions for future policy and programming to leverage the potential of migration for climate change adaptation.
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