Successful interventions that reduced water-driven migration

Interventions that have successfully reduced water-driven migration typically combine improved water management strategies, infrastructure investment, governance reforms, and climate adaptation, resulting in increased local resilience and reduced need for displacement.iemed+2​

Examples of Successful Interventions

• Jordan & Lebanon (Zaatari refugee camp):

  • Humanitarian agencies constructed communal water taps and sanitation points, connected households to water and sewerage networks, and implemented hydroponic agriculture projects to increase water productivity.iemed​

  • The adoption of eco-camp models, efficient water networks, and environmentally smart technologies enabled host communities to better absorb migrant populations with less strain.iemed​

• California (USA):

  • The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and region-wide agreements (e.g., QSA) created sustainable groundwater plans, increased water efficiency, and shifted agricultural systems to drip irrigation, boosting water productivity and stabilizing economic output while reducing migration pressures from drought-prone areas.frontiersin​

• Lake Chad Basin (Africa):

  • Adaptation programs introduced drought-resistant seeds, vocational and agricultural training, climate-adaptive demonstration farms, and water conservation methods.climate-refugees​

  • NGOs integrated disaster risk reduction, social cohesion training, and early warning systems, allowing displaced communities to remain and rebuild instead of migrating.climate-refugees​

Policy and Technical Solutions

• Investment in water infrastructure such as dams, irrigation systems, and water treatment plants has improved water availability and reduced the risk of migration in vulnerable regions.climate.sustainability-directory+1​

• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), participatory governance, and equitable access policies have helped prevent displacement by increasing community resilience and sustainability.climate.sustainability-directory​

Social and Economic Strategies

• Strengthening social protection programs for vulnerable populations, supporting sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation strategies with coordinated local and national policy support have helped stabilize at-risk regions.weforum+1​

• Community-led water conservation initiatives and capacity-building efforts bolster local ability to manage water stress without resorting to migration.scotmas​

Overall, the most effective interventions recognize the interconnectedness of water security, climate resilience, and social stability, combining technical, policy, and social solutions to reduce water-driven migration.academic.oup+3​

1. https://www.iemed.org/publication/migration-and-water-resources-existing-concerns-and-proposed-solutions/
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/water/articles/10.3389/frwa.2022.935422/full
3. https://www.climate-refugees.org/reports/case-study-loss-and-damage
4. https://climate.sustainability-directory.com/question/how-does-water-scarcity-affect-human-migration-patterns/
5. https://academic.oup.com/book/33629/chapter/288148532
6. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/03/4-ways-to-prevent-and-manage-climate-migration/
7. https://www.scotmas.com/news/climate-refugees-the-human-displacement-caused-by-water-shortages/
8. https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wat2.1647
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332223002105
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11282214/
11. https://idrc-crdi.ca/en/what-we-do/projects-we-support/project/addressing-climate-and-water-driven-migration-and-conflict
12. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/water-and-migration-global-overview
13. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/c5c1e109-a644-4a8e-b313-38198ed8f455
14. http://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/water-scarcity-and-human-immobility-identifying-internal-migration-patterns-driven
15. https://www.aquatechtrade.com/news/water-treatment/mass-migration-impact-on-water
16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623522000708
17. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27538796231207919
18. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/natural-resources/water.html
19. https://www.bccic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/PDF_Climate-Change-Induced-Internal-Displacement-in-Canada_Mohamed_A_Sept2020-CC-20-02-2164.pdf
20. https://sevenseaswater.com/balancing-development-and-source-water-protection/