Climate-Induced Rural-Urban Migration-a Narrative Account of the Gender Dimension in Malawi's Disaster-Prone Districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa.

Master Simoni, International Organization for Migration
Innocent Hauya, Edge Consult
Jarvis Mwenechanya, Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change-Environmental Affairs Department

Climate-induced Rural-Urban Migration-A Narrative Account of the Gender Dimension in Malawi Disaster-prone districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa. As climate shocks continue to cause significant displacements and affect livelihoods, households are adopting migration as an adaptation strategy. However, due to other social risks and gender constraints households are not able to realize the full benefits of migration. The qualitative study explored the extent to which climate shocks are influencing rural-urban migration and how age and gender are affecting migration benefits. Since 2014, increase in intensity and severity of climate shocks has significantly derailed recovery efforts. Households are therefore using migration as a short-term measure to cope with climate shocks. In the long term, relocation to safer areas or areas with resilient livelihood options is becoming a viable option. There are more people moving into urban areas than to rural areas. Age and gender are significantly influencing migration decisions at household level.