Samuel Hall’s Post

🌍 Strengthening Community-Driven Action for Climate Mobility - A View from Eastern Africa, Afghanistan & The Caribbean We’re pleased to share highlights from our Brown Bag session at The The Hague Humanity Hub, led by our Research Lead, Nikki Stoumen. Samuel Hall has been studying the phenomena of climate mobility and displacement since 2010. During the session, Nikki explored the impacts of climate change on communities in displacement settings, drawing from our research in Afghanistan, Eastern Africa, and the Caribbean. Each context reaffirms that those most affected are the true experts of their own experiences, ideally positioned to influence policy and programs. To underscore this, we shared firsthand accounts and compelling stories directly from the field. Additionally, Tiarra Simon, our national researcher in Suriname, provided insights on community-driven initiatives observed in #Suriname, addressing the challenges of climate change and displacement uncovered during our research with GCCMI. Drawing from our research, our presentation emphasised the importance of community-led efforts in addressing climate-induced displacement. See our recommendations below. Find our research from Afghanistan and Somalia.  ➡ https://lnkd.in/d668MbJz ➡ https://lnkd.in/eHpe-AU and stay tuned for our upcoming research on climate mobility from the Caribbean and Kenya.

📢 This #InternationalLabourDay serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to create an enabling environment where international migrant workers can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development while enjoying fair and just working conditions. 📈According to the International Labour Organization, there are 169 million international migrant workers globally which make up 5% of the global labour force. They are often found to be working in temporary, informal, or unprotected jobs. Despite their substantial contribution, many migrant workers are faced with  challenges often finding themselves assigned to temporary, informal, or inadequately protected employment arrangements. 🚫Migrant workers often encounter barriers like limited job eligibility, discrimination based on nationality or language skills, and difficulty accessing important work rights and benefits. As one Ethiopian migrant worker recounted his experience in Qatar, “I've faced several challenges like not having enough money for rent and being out of work for a long time. How can you get by in a foreign country without these basics? Migrant workers, especially women, face exploitation.  Some even die because their workplaces aren't safe.  A big challenge is that many migrant workers don't think they have any rights. We also don't feel confident enough to stand up for ourselves and demand fair treatment.” 📊Furthermore, our research with the International Labour Organization titled 'Assessment of Legal Labour Migration Frameworks in Africa' has shed light on critical gaps within legislative and regulatory frameworks across various African countries and regional economic bodies. These gaps significantly affect migrant workers' labour rights and their access to social and economic benefits. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dZMbAU-j To address these issues, we need to include migrants and their concerns in economic and social policies at national, regional, and global levels. ✊ We are calling for ethical standards for migrant labour & equitable and easy access to local services. Our discussion paper for THAMM (Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa) also highlights why adopting a gender-sensitive approach and empowering agency remains paramount to ensuring safety, justice & dignity. ➡ https://lnkd.in/eaf8PxBk Scroll through more of our recommendations below ⬇ Let us commit to bridging these gaps and promoting a more equitable and sustainable approach to labour migration.

🔊Samuel Hall was delighted to participate in the recent social learning event themed, “Resilience through Research: Elevating Refugees Voices in Policy'' organised by Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, Refugee-Led Research Hub, Maseno University , and FilmAid. The event convened a diverse group of urban and camp-based refugee researchers, creatives, mission/delegation representatives, and policy makers. 🤝Our Research Operations Manager, Jared Aol, contributed to the panel discussion highlighting the need to actively engaging refugees in research. The panel emphasised the importance of prioritising collaborative knowledge development in strategic agendas, especially when addressing the complex challenges of the refugees in Kenya and the broader region.  This approach illustrates the value of inclusivity & localisation , that we actively embrace at Samuel Hall. Beyond data collection, we work with refugee researchers to shape methodologies, analysis, and dissemination. To ensure that refugee programming and policymaking in Kenya are informed by locally driven and generated research, ReDSS, Refugee-Led Research Hub, and Maseno University are collaborating on ‘Kenya Evidence Platform. 'This initiative focuses on promoting durable solutions and strengthening relationships and accountability. 🌐Together, let us work towards fostering a more inclusive and informed approach to refugee programming, ensuring that our collective efforts lead to meaningful and lasting solutions for everyone.

🔉Embracing the Nexus of Climate, Localisation, and Faith: A Call to Collective Action Climate change is more than a global challenge; it is a local reality affecting communities at the most personal levels—altering livelihoods, depleting resources, and reshaping ways of life.  How can collaborations between local knowledge holders and faith-based organisations drive effective, community-centered responses to climate challenges? Join us at at the Humanitarian Networks Partnership Week #HNPW 2024 for a hybrid session on ‘Embracing the Nexus of Climate, Localisation, and Faith’ where alongside policymakers, donors, operational actors, researchers, Samuel Hall will present insights from its latest research with the Islamic Relief Worldwide on the value faith actors can add to the localisation process, focusing on strengthening locally-led adaptation measures.  🗓️ : 06/05/2024 📌: Pleniere C, CICG Geneva & online ⏱️ : 09:00 - 10:30 UTC+2  For more information & to register for the event: https://lnkd.in/d6Tr9_Kt 

Samuel Hall was honoured to participate in the #EqualityinClimateAction conference in Nairobi, where we explored gender-inclusive planning for Africa's sustainable future. Lisa Pfister, our Research Programmes Coordinator, led an informative session on our ongoing project with UNDP, examining the nexus between Gender, Climate Change, and Mobility. 🔎 Research by Samuel Hall highlights how climate change acts as a threat multiplier, especially for women. Women, often primary caregivers, face increased workloads, while also being marginalised in education and livelihood opportunities that favor men. Sharing findings from our fieldwork in Suswa, Kenya; Plateau State, Nigeria, and Baidoa, Somalia, Lisa Pfister highlighted some significant challenges faced by women in Africa: 🏠 Older women in some communities can't move easily during climate emergencies because they're expected to take care of their households. ⚖️Extreme heat is disproportionately affecting women in the markets and in houses without proper ventilation (particularly in IDP settlements) 💰 Women face challenges in finding jobs and getting financial support, increasing their dependence on men and making it harder for them to cope with climate changes. 🚫♀️Women are often sidelined in climate decision-making due to stereotypes and lack of information, which hampers effective solutions Rooted in on our research, Lisa Pfister also highlighted best practices and recommendations ➡ Build Community Resilience through investment in their traditional knowledge systems and encouraging community-based resource management. ➡ Fund women-led environmental programs that are gender-focused from their design to their monitoring. ➡ Encourage financial independence by promoting financial services that are cognizant of the traditional constraints that limit women’s ownership of assets. With UNDP, we are starting a feminist coalition building exercise (FCBE) to establish a feminist coalition of African research networks, NGOs, activists, entrepreneurs, experts, RLOs, and more to address barriers to human development of women and other groups in vulnerable situations in relation to climate and mobility on the African continent. This will be key to building a sustainable and equitable future for all in the region. Stay tuned for our research and read our two blogs sharing field insights from Kenya on this topic. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dzSPiay5 ➡https://lnkd.in/dN7wz4Ur

🔊New on Samuel Hall Stories: Meet Kitunga Kapya, A Wood Artisan Crafting A Life As A Refugee in Kenya Forced to flee Congo due to conflict, Kapya leveraged his woodworking skills that he learned from his father, to establish a new life in Kenya. In 2017, with support from the Danish Refugee Council, he was able to set up his own workshop. Today, he crafts a variety of wooden items, sells and even exports them – from utensils to intricate sculptures, furniture to little keep-sakes and one of his favourite miniature creations - the symbol of peace, ‘dove’ in his workshop in Uthiru, Nairobi. 🕊️ Despite challenges such as limited market access and the complexities of digital commerce, Kapya remains committed to expanding his business and exploring e-commerce to reach wider markets. He envisions not just success for his workshop but also a future where he can provide for his daughter’s education and well-being.📚 Navigating creative pursuits amidst market constraints unwelcoming to refugees, Kapya opens up to us about his journey, artistic passion, his achievements and the support refugee artisans like him need in our latest feature on Samuel Hall Stories. “I enjoy what I do. I want to teach other refugees this craft, and I want my business to grow. However, we seek support, opportunities and markets beyond mere financial assistance. We also need training on technical know-how and the marketing skills to thrive with these opportunities — as these are skills we miss out on, in our often interrupted education. Through such means, we can genuinely start rebuilding our lives,” Kapya says. 💡Kapya’s story sheds light on the broader dynamics at play, revealing how creativity is both challenged and channeled by the structural limitations imposed on those seeking refuge and a new beginning. To fully leverage their creativity and skills, we must focus on building a supportive ecosystem, advocating for financial inclusion, supporting associations and cooperatives, and prioritising digital upskilling. These efforts can unlock their immense potential, fostering innovation, economic growth, and inclusive development. 🔎Read more on Kapya’s story here and how to support his work here: https://lnkd.in/dPuB8hdF

Samuel Hall was delighted to contribute to the discussions during the launch of VNG International's Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) initiative in Nairobi uniting key stakeholders including the Governor of Garissa County, representatives from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Kenya, officials from Turkana County Government, the Ugandan Government, and delegates from the Denmark Embassy. 📚Based on our report titled 'Devolution in Kenya: Opportunity for Transitional Solutions for Refugees?' developed in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp(DRC) and the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (@ReDSS), our Operations Manager, Jared Aol, delivered an insightful presentation emphasising the essential connection between devolution and refugee management. He highlighted significant opportunities for stakeholders to incorporate the devolution process into their frameworks, emphasising evidence-based strategies for sustainable outcomes. 📊Looking back, we've witnessed remarkable progress in refugee management, including the enactment of the Refugee Act of 2021, improved accessibility to government services, and the implementation of area-based and municipal solutions like the Kakuma and Dadaab municipalities. The innovative Shirika plan has also played a role in fostering inclusion and self-reliance. However, there's still room for improvement, especially in enhancing collaboration between national and county levels and ensuring refugees' inclusion in national systems. Moving forward, we need to focus on encouraging localisation, strengthening the legal environment for the Shirika Plan and the Refugee Act, and promoting multi-stakeholder consultations and capacity building for county authorities. Together, we can achieve better refugee management and protection in Kenya. Read the "Devolution in Kenya: Opportunity for Transitional Solutions for Refugees?" report here : https://lnkd.in/dNpUJiEU

📢 #WorldEarthDay2024 🌍  As climate change continues to displace people around the world, it is more important than ever to acknowledge and tackle the vital role of a healthy ecosystem for migrants and refugees. 🌍 At Samuel Hall, we believe that global change starts locally. This #WorldEarthDay, we are calling for locally-led action that respects and incorporates the voices of communities and their traditional knowledge systems into policy and programming. 🔎 Through our research and collaborations with IOM - UN Migration, UN Environment Programme, UNDP, UNEP-WCMC, Greater Caribbean Climate Mobility Initiative and more along with local conversations with communities across Africa, South & Central Asia and the Caribbean, we have seen that dialogues are most constructive at the local level. 💡 By working with communities to understand their needs and priorities, we can develop locally-led solutions that are both effective and sustainable. Moreover, given local government bodies can rapidly mitigate impacts of #climatechange, given their proximity to and socio-cultural awareness of the communities they work with. 🌆 For instance, Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE announced Africa’s ‘First Chief Heat Officer’ to monitor heat waves - following on from her ‘Freetown the Tree Town’ campaign, which will see 1 million trees planted over three rainy seasons. Mayors Migration Council has also highlighted critical calls to action focused on urban resilience, inclusion, and transformation. Samuel Hall collaborated with MMC to author a policy brief on urban planning alongside displaced communities for the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) PDUW project. Additionally, we have engaged in discussions through our participatory forums in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, aimed at developing green spaces that cater specifically to women, youth, and displaced communities. ➡ https://lnkd.in/dgj4mg-V With a focus on local decision-making, we are passionate about inclusive & equitable action that puts people at the heart of climate conversations. Scroll below ⬇ to see how locally-led action and governance can help mitigate the risks of harmful environmental and climate change, and consequently, save our EARTH. 🌍 Read our position paper on climate migration- ‘Against The Clock’ that highlights strong community-led initiatives and presents insights from experts: ➡ https://lnkd.in/dEhqihc7 Read our research on climate change and displacement in Afghanistan that shares recommendations for strengthening community involvement for climate mobility action ➡https://lnkd.in/d668MbJz Read our blog on the role of women in the climate mobility agenda co-authored with UNDP ➡https://lnkd.in/dUef_Jiw #WorldEarthDay2024 #LocalChange #Ecosystems #ClimateChange