New Delhi - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched on 21 November at the UN House a joint programme in Odisha and Telangana, aiming to enhance the resilience of migrants and vulnerable households in the face of climate change. Supported by the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF), the three-year project is the first of its kind in India, and it is dedicated to addressing the challenges derived from the interplay of migration, agriculture and climate change. 

Chaired by Mr Franklin Khobung, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the event was attended by UN representatives, government officials and stakeholders of various sectors. In his remark, Mr Khobung pointed out that climate resilience is one of the focus areas for the agricultural sector in India, as climate change continues to impact the lives and livelihoods of many across the country, especially the rural populations. “Given India’s diverse climatic conditions, the Government stresses the needs for more effective adaption measures in the agricultural sector,” he said.  

In this occasion, the representatives from Odisha and Telangana raised the awareness on the vulnerability of their populations posed by the natural hazards of increasing intensity, underscoring the need to collaboratively work on the interrelations between agriculture, migration and climate change. Highlighting the relevance of the initiative to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in India, expressed his expectation for the joint programme to adopt a rights-based approach to address the needs of the affected populations, with a particular focus on gender equality and women empowerment.  

Meanwhile, representatives of MMPTF donor nations remarked collectively on how the practices from the joint programme would be relevant in many regional and global contexts, where the intersection of human mobility and agriculture remains to be properly understood. 

In a video message, Phillippe Grandet, Senior Trust Fund Manager at the Fund Management Unit of the MMPTF, highlighted the importance of facilitating stronger collaboration between the Global North and South. He furthered by indicating that the programme is crucial in implementing rights-based solutions to ensure migrants’ rights and safety.  

Attending the launch event, Sanjay Awasthi, IOM India Head of Office, stressed the necessity of creating meaningful climate interventions which are inclusive, comprehensive and accompanied with effective feedback loops that support international migration governance and management frameworks. “The joint programme will enhance and enlarge the scope of migration management, while providing effective assistance to the most in need,” he said. 

Acknowledging the opportunity provided by this joint programme, Dr Konda Chavva, Assistant FAO India Representative, emphasized its objective to improve the livelihoods in India and empower women, youth and marginalized groups. “The programme will help ensure migrants and the most vulnerable are equipped with climate resilience. Through this cooperation, FAO intends to build on its work on climate-resilient agriculture, while IOM will upscale its support to migrants.” 

MMPTF is the UN financing mechanism dedicated to supporting joint initiatives of Member States, the UN agencies and other stakeholders in the national implementation of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM). 

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For more information, please contact: 

Amit Chowdhury, IOM | Email: achowdhury@iom.int  

Shalini Bhutani, FAO | Email: shalini.bhutani@fao.org