Assessing Risks at the Intersection of Climate Insecurity and Violent Extremism: Key Insights and Recommendations from the Dakar Design Workshop
Climate change and violent extremism risks intersect in complex ways, particularly in regions such as West Africa and the Sahel, where climatic changes exacerbate resource scarcity, displacement, and socio-economic vulnerabilities which are at risk of being exploited by violent extremist groups in the region, intensifying recruitment and instability. Therefore, climate change is increasingly recognized as a "risk multiplier" undermining governance and resilience, creating cycles of vulnerability that hinder adaptation and mitigation efforts. Addressing these intertwined risks requires innovative approaches that are both conflict-sensitive and locally informed.To address this challenge, in July 2024, UNICRI and UNOWAS convened a three-day regional workshop in Dakar to design a methodologica...