Discussion Paper

Download PDF

Social cohesion in the context of environmental/climate-related internal displacement in Ghana

Bonn: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23661/idp15.2025

Climate change poses an existential threat to individuals and communities across the world. Populations with existing socio-economic vulnerabilities are the most affected, with people already experiencing climate-related losses and damages. Extreme weather events and other adverse impacts of climate change lead to forced displacement of populations to, from and within cities. Hence, building and supporting social cohesion in displacement contexts will be a key activity for development cooperation actors.
This research study therefore explores these questions: How do the elements of social cohesion, trust, inclusive identity and cooperation for the common good, evolve within communities and across institutions in Accra’s informal settlements? Additionally, what role do climate resilience efforts play in fostering or hampering vertical and horizontal social cohesion in Accra’s informal settlements?Our findings suggest that limited institutional resilience efforts contribute to weak vertical cohesion between neighbourhoods and city authorities, undermining collective responses to climate challenges. The research emphasizes the need for a more integrated approach, whereby community-led initiatives and state interventions work together to strengthen resilience and social cohesion in Accra’s informal settlements.

Über die IDOS-Autor*innen

Martin-Shields, Charles

Politikwissenschaftler

Ekoh, Susan S.

Umweltwissenschaft

Weitere IDOS-Expert*innen zu diesem Thema

Abedtalas, Musallam

Ökonomie 

Aleksandrova, Mariya

Climate risk governance 

Brandi, Clara

Ökonomie und Politikwissenschaft 

Christ, Simone

Sozialanthropologie 

Dippel, Beatrice

Komparatistik 

Donnelly, Aiveen

Politikwissenschaft 

Flaig, Merlin

Sozialwissenschaft 

Fuhrmann-Riebel, Hanna

Ökonomie 

Goedeking, Nicholas

Vergleichende politische Ökonomie 

Hagenström, Paul

Internationale Beziehungen 

Jaji, Rose

Anthropologie 

Kativu, Saymore Ngonidzashe

Geographie 

Kuhnt, Jana

Entwicklungsökonomin 

Lehmann, Ina

Politikwissenschaft 

Malerba, Daniele

Ökonomie 

Mathis, Okka Lou

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Never, Babette

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Pegels, Anna

Ökonomin 

Putz, Lena-Marie

Friedens- und Konfliktforschung 

Rodríguez de Francisco, Jean Carlo

Ökologische Ökonomie 

Srigiri, Srinivasa Reddy

Agrarökonom 

Wagner, Niklas

Klima- und Wissenssoziologie 

Yi, HyunAh

Energie- und Umweltwissenschaften