Migration and Displacement in the Igad Region: Human Mobility in the Context of Covid-19

This book delves into the dynamics of human mobility and migration in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses empirical sources from extensive fieldwork in the region to assess the impact of COVID-19 on conflict-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs), vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, the response of the government and IDPs coping mechanisms. It traces migration governance from regional and national perspectives and shares the opportunities and challenges in the region. The book presents the lessons learned and shares a way forward for the region during future pandemics. Chapters cover topics such as the protection of migrant workers’ rights, livelihoods of cross-border traders and communities and the gender dimension of COVID-19 impacts. It is a valuable read for students, policymakers, policy advisors, academics and all those interested in studies on migration and migration-related diversities.

Michael Owiso is the dean in the School of Development and Strategic Studies and Director, Odera Akang’o Campus at Maseno University-Kenya. He also holds a senior visiting research fellow position at Kings College, London. He has taught subjects in the fields of political science, international relations and development studies at various universities in Kenya and abroad. He was previously in the humanitarian sector for over 17 years during which he made contributions to the peacebuilding field. During this time, he also worked closely with displacement-affected communities in various settings including camps and urban centers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. He has conceptual and practical experience in dealing with conflict, peace, security and development issues in the Eastern and Horn of Africa region. He is a champion of participatory methods to development and education. He is also a consultant in the above fields.

Fekadu Adugna Tufa is an associate professor of Social Anthropology at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, where he served as a chairman for over three years. He has been conducting research on a variety of issues including inter-ethnic conflicts, identity studies, border studies, land use system, forced displacement and migration. He has coordinated and served as principal researcher in several multi-country research projects on forced displacement, refugees, migration and borderland studies in the Horn of Africa. He is a co-I for a Protracted Displacement Economy funded by Global Challenge Research Fund, which is part of UK’s ODA funding. He was also a coordinator and a researcher in Migrating out of Poverty, a project funded by DFID and Borderland Dynamics in East Africa funded by NORAD. Fekadu is widely publishing on conflicts, migration and forced displacements.

Abdi Hersi is the Senior Regional Policy and Liaison officer for the International Organization for Migration (UN Migration Agency) of the East and Horn of Africa region. Abdi has over 15 years of migration management experience as practice, policy development and research. Prior to this assignment, he was the Knowledge Management and Learning expert―Migration Program of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Dr. Abdi is a former sessional lecturer in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences of Griffith University and has previously taught the course of Conflict and Forced Displacement. He is the author of the migrant integration book: Conceptualisation of Integration: An Australian Muslim Counter-Narrative, published by Palgrave Macmillan.