Research Team Ghana: Social Cohesion in the Context of Environmental/Climate-Related Internal Displacement in Ghana
Climate change poses an existential threat to individuals and communities across the world. Populations with existing socio-economic vulnerabilities are the most affected, with people already experiencing climate-related losses and damages.
Project Lead:
Susan Ekoh
Charles Martin-Shields
Mary B. Setrana (University of Ghana)
Project Team:
- Carolin Kitzmann
- Nina Küssau
- Merle Platen
- Mario Pfeffer
- Theresa Reinel
Financing:
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Time frame:
2023 - 2024
/
completed
Project description
Extreme weather events and other adverse impacts of climate change lead to forced displacement of populations to, from and within cities. Hence, building and supporting social cohesion in displacement contexts will be a key activity for development cooperation actors. This research study therefore explores the question of how climate and environmental related displacements affect social cohesion in the city of Accra, Ghana. Furthermore, the research explores the role of climate resilience in building social cohesion in Accra.
The communities of focus for this study are informal settlements and coastal neighborhoods threatened by the impacts of climate change in Accra. In addition, the study employs a mixed method approach of inquiry involving surveys, interviews and photo voice. Furthermore, the study involves collaboration of the IDOS Post Graduate team with the Center for Migration Studies, University of Ghana and the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PDHS) in Ghana.