Addressing Human Mobility in a Changing Climate in Mountain Areas of Ecuador (I) and Kazakhstan (II)

Elements of Innovation

• Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
• Social Cohesion and Community Participation
• Data, Research and Technology

What is the project about?

Mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change, experiencing its effects more rapidly than other habitats. This manifests as glacier retreat, increased hazards, and biodiversity loss. Notably, 40 per cent of the global population indirectly relies on mountain resources for essential resources - water, agriculture, biodiversity, and hydroelectricity, all at risk due to global warming. These changes are anticipated to drive further forced mobility, displacement, and relocation.

Two related projects, in Ecuador and Kazakhstan, address these dynamics by developing a cross-regional strategy to manage human mobility in environmentally degraded mountainous areas. The projects aim to enhance governance of human mobility in such contexts, reducing vulnerability for both migrants and local communities while harnessing positive developmental impacts of migration. By empowering local actors, the projects bolster their role in shaping and implementing policies at the climate change- human mobility intersection. Additionally, they seek to promote dialogue and collaboration, emphasizing mountainous challenges in global climate and human mobility discussions.

How is the project innovative?

The initiatives’ innovation is rooted in its approach of replicating initiatives across two geographically distinct yet environmentally analogous regions: Kazakhstan and Ecuador. By mirroring strategies, methodologies, and lessons learned from one context to another, the project fosters an effective cross-regional synergy among communities residing on opposite sides of the world yet confronting similar challenges.

Through this mirroring mechanism, a dynamic exchange of knowledge is set in motion, enabling the adaptation, refinement, and application of achievements and insights across the two distinct mountainous regions. This mutually reinforcing learning process serves to identify best practices and context-specific solutions, offering unique perspectives for enhancing climate change adaptation and disaster resilience. By drawing meaningful parallels between the experiences of Kazakhstan and Ecuador, the initiative assembles a comprehensive toolkit that empowers local stakeholders and practitioners within both regions. Ultimately, the mirroring of the project between these two countries signifies an innovative paradigm, steering the governance of human mobility towards a more global trajectory, transcending traditional geographical boundaries and affiliations. Due to its innovative features and overall successful impact, this joint initiative has already secured follow-up funding for further expansion.