The workshop participants listening to an expert talk
By Sarobidy Rakotonarivo and Henintsoa Rakoto Harison,
January 2024
National Workshop on Collaborative Model Building to Understand Environment and Migration
The CHAIN project is funded by the Belmont Forum and involves a consortium of eight organizations across Sweden, France, Madagascar, the UK, and the USA to understand how climate change affects migration and environmental changes, especially in places where data is scarce, like Madagascar.
Recently, the CHAIN Project Team hosted a workshop where experts from around the world came together to explore how the environment and migration are connected. Held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, over two days in January 2024, the workshop brought together 35 academics, professionals, and decision-makers specializing in livelihoods, migration, and the environment.
Specifically, the workshop aimed to:
- Identify important questions about livelihoods, migration, and the environment that are relevant to science, society, and policy.
- Understand how participants view key factors and processes related to these questions.
- Decide on the best computer modelling tools and methods to address these questions.
- Find available data that can be used to develop the model.
Dr Andrew Bell from Cornell University introducing agent-based modelling and the causal thinking approaches
Through plenary discussions, goal-driven exercises, and expert presentations, participants collaboratively developed a computational model to tackle key questions surrounding environment and migration, while assessing the potential impact of such models on discourse and decision-making processes.
During the workshop participants took part in a live poll to share their thoughts on what they think are the most important issues. Important topics included difficulties in understanding migration patterns, the necessity for coordinated government policies, and the importance of reliable data on climate change and migration. Participants also stressed the importance of recognizing power dynamics among migration groups and correctly identifying the reasons for population movements due to climate change. They emphasized the need for better coordination in research to share data effectively and produce robust evidence.
Some workshop participants getting to know each other
Andrew Bell from Cornell University introduced the causal thinking approach to understand how different factors in migration are connected and affect each other over time. Participants used the concept to identify and understand specific migrations contexts and patterns and discussed ways to address their negative effects. This approach provided valuable insights into migration dynamics and to understand feedback loops where migration both responds to and influences economic conditions in both the origin and destination areas.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to embark on a journey of primary data collection (household surveys and qualitative approaches in key sending and receiving areas) to better understand the complex interactions between migration and the environment. Effective engagement with stakeholders will also be important moving forward. We will continue collaborating with practitioners and government agencies to ensure our research reaches those who need it most. By fostering open communication and sharing information, we can work together to address the challenges posed by migration and environmental change in Madagascar, one of the most vulnerable countries to the negative effects of climate change.
A group photo
Some of the project team hanging out after the workshop