MiTra|WA
MiTra|WA: Migration and Translocality in West Africa
West Africa is a region of migration par excellence. However, contrary to the popular image of a dominant West African-European migration nexus, 90% of international migration from West Africa takes place within the region (IOM, 2021). In addition to these estimated 8 million international migrants, millions of people migrate within their country, temporally, seasonally or permanently.
Analyses of these mobilities either tend to focus on social and economic impacts in migrants' places of origin or at their destinations. By applying a translocal livelihood and mobility approach on the household level, our project focusses on the interlinkages and dynamics between these places. Hereby, we seek to better understand the drivers, practices, structures and processes of rural-urban and cross-border migration and their interconnected impacts for rural and urban settings. Focusing on Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria, we emphasize challenges on social, political and ecological levels such as land use and changing gender relations, the growth of urban agglomerations and environmental change.
NEWS
Working paper series: Migration, translocality and development in times of climate change
The study of migration and translocality in times of climate change is central to the various sub-projects in our international consortium. Since the project started in August 2021, we have been examining drivers, practices, process and structures of migration from a variety of disciplinary and geographical perspectives, and have employed a range of methodological approaches. In this context, our research teams from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Germany have investigated environmental and social transformation and the climate change-migration nexus.
In our series, "Migration, translocality and development in times of climate change” we present the latest results, excerpts from our work, as well as interim results or outcomes of small-scale studies.
This series is part of our Climate & Environmental Services which we provide to the public. It focusses on topics relating to climate and environmental change in connection with migration, but will also feature papers on other relevant issues in relation to migration in West Africa..
Coming up in June 2024:
- Coastal flloding and migration
- Climate change and translocality
- Rural development and migration in rural Ghana
Lecture Series on Sustainability and Migration focussing on West-Africa
This winter terms lecture series on sustainability is coordinated by the Mitra|WA project, together with the sustainability office of the University of Passau.
Focus is on (sustainable) development and migration topics in West Africa. The lecture series will be partly held in German, partly in English language.
Everybody is welcome to join on selcted Wednesdays, 6-8 pm, HS 3, University of Passau.
Further information: https://studip.uni-passau.de/studip/dispatch.php/course/overview?cid=b50bdabf328c776c77bc6bfb1207f916
Mitra|WA at Tropentag and Deutscher Kongress für Geographie 2023
Researchers from almost all our teams present their research at the DKG in Frankfurt or at the Tropentag in Berlin, both taking place from September 19th till 23rd.
We were happy to meet our colleagues from Burkina Faso and Nigeria in person!
Ghana on the move: Photo exhibition at the University of Passau
From July 3rd till July 9th 2023, a photo exhibition showing impressions from the field trip to Ghana was held at the University of Passau. Located in the hallway between the Philosophicum and Nikolakloster, the exhibition was freely accessible.
Please find the pictures and short stories on migration and development HERE.