Roughly 2 million people in West and Central Africa were displaced by disasters by the end of 2024 – about one fifth of the global total – and regional leaders say climate funding is not reaching the communities that need it most.

Governments and partners from across the region issued that call at a conference in Lagos, Nigeria, on 12–13 May 2026. They produced a roadmap outlining practical steps to protect livelihoods and help communities adapt to floods, droughts and environmental degradation that are already reshaping where and how people live.

Who is sounding the alarm?

"Climate change is already affecting where and how people live. The challenge now is moving fast enough to deliver practical solutions and funding to vulnerable communities," said Sylvia Ekra, IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

"Our region has shown leadership by including migration in climate policies. Now we must ensure climate funding reaches the communities most affected, so migration is a safe and informed choice – not a last resort," Ekra said.

The figures behind the appeal are stark. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, up to 32 million people in the region could be forced to move within their own countries because of climate change. Floods, droughts and storms are damaging homes, roads and essential services, while desertification, environmental damage and rising sea levels add pressure on both rural communities and cities.

What did the Lagos conference agree?

The 12–13 May gathering, co-hosted by the Government of Nigeria with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Climate Change and Migration Data (CCMD) Programme, produced a roadmap and a set of recommendations. Participants called for:

• Stronger early warning systems for climate shocks
• More support for local adaptation efforts
• Better access to climate funding for affected communities

The recommendations will feed into major global climate negotiations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process and COP31, which Türkiye will host later in 2026.

Which countries have acted?

Policy momentum is building across the region. Most countries that recently updated their national climate plans now include migration and displacement issues, according to the conference.

Côte d'Ivoire and Mauritania also joined the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, bringing the number of supporting African countries to 33.

What comes next?

Negotiators frame the challenge as one of matching policy with money. "Climate-related human mobility is no longer a peripheral issue; it is an adaptation and resilience priority that must be negotiated, planned and financed accordingly," said Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators.

"The next step is to match that policy progress with credible data and accessible finance, so governments and partners can invest in solutions that reduce risk, protect livelihoods and expand safe options for people on the frontlines," he said.

For migrants and displaced communities across West and Central Africa, the stakes are concrete. The Lagos roadmap positions migration management as a core climate adaptation priority rather than an afterthought, and its recommendations will be tested at COP31 later this year.

Official details on the conference and IOM's regional work are available through IOM's Media Centre.