Social cohesion and forced mobility in a changing climate: Data from Ghana and Niger

We are currently witnessing complex interactions between climate change, development and security challenges, and social relations in many contexts globally. Programming focusing on these issues, especially with a focus on social cohesion, is rapidly expanding. However, data on the linkages between these dynamics is extremely limited. This working paper shares unique data documenting these linkages in Ghana and Niger. The working paper shares data from the study "Displacement, climate change and social cohesion: exploring loss and damage dynamics", a collaboration between the Danish Institute for International Studies and the Danish Red Cross as well as research partners in Ghana and Red Cross partners in Niger. It presents qualitative and quantitative results from data collection in the Upper West Region of Ghana and the Tillabéri Region of Niger, where livelihoods are under pressure due to environmental, development and security challenges and forced mobility is widespread. By sharing these results, we seek to make this unique data available for practitioners and researchers, as well as other interested parties, for further use. The study 'Displacement, climate change and social cohesion: exploring loss and damage dynamics' explored changes in social relations and social cohesion in relation to climate change and forced mobility. It took a loss and damage perspective, seeking to understand how those affected by climate change and forced mobility may have experienced losses to social cohesion, and what impacts that has had on their well-being more broadly. Analysis of the data can be found in the DIIS Report Loss, damage and social cohesion: impacts and next steps for policy and programming and the DIIS Policy Brief "Losses and damages to social cohesion are overlooked".