PhD Defence Niklas Fabian Mayer

Keywords: Climate Resilience Building, Migration, Aspirations-Capability Framework, EUTF
 

"Climate Change, Development Interventions and (Im)mobility in Ethiopia: The Perceived Role of Climate Development Interventions on Aspirations and Capabilities"

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report 2023, 3.6 billion people worldwide live in areas increasingly vulnerable to climate change. By enhancing people’s resilience to climate change, the EU Commission aims to address the root causes of irregular migration in countries of origin and manage migration. But how exactly does climate change influence migration? Will a better resilience to withstand climate shocks help people to stay where they are, as expected by the EU and other donors? To contribute new evidence to the outlined research gap, this dissertation qualitatively explores the role of an EU-funded climate development intervention for the aspirations and perceived capabilities of supported farmers, pastoralists and youths to migrate or stay. Between 2021 and 2023, several rounds of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews with approximately 200 research participants were conducted in two different research areas of southern Ethiopia, that are affected by climate change.  

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