Insight
Addressing migration: collaborative strategies and sustainable solutions for local development and food security in the Global South
Farmer Field Day, Torit, South Sudan 2019 (Ole in the centre)
Agronomist Ole Stokholm Jepsen was Team Leader of the Dutch-funded and NIRAS implemented Water for Eastern Equatoria project in South Sudan, a long-term development project focused on integrated water resource management and water-, hygiene-, and sanitation-related (WASH) interventions for people as well as the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors. In this blog, he discusses the challenges and potential solutions related to migration from the Global South to the EU. Ole advocates for long-term, cooperative efforts between the EU and countries in Africa and the Middle East to address the root causes of migration. A key solution he proposes is developing sustainable local and regional food production, which can create jobs, enhance food security, and reduce the need for migration. The article also highlights the importance of integrating gender equality, youth activation, and private sector development into these efforts.
August 21, 2024
Migration from the Global South to the European Union (EU) primarily involves refugees and migrants seeking better living conditions and assistance. While it may not be the most pressing issue at present, there is a growing concern that, over time, this could escalate into mass migrations, with potentially devastating consequences for both the Global South and the EU.
The most viable solution to curb migration lies in fostering a long-term, committed partnership between the EU and various countries in Africa and the Middle East. This collaboration aims to replace feelings of powerlessness with hope, trust, and faith—key components for nurturing democratic processes.
To achieve this, a series of targeted interventions must be implemented, allowing all involved parties to take ownership and responsibility. It is essential for the populations in these regions to see and experience tangible benefits in staying in their home countries and regions, empowering them to build sustainable futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Get to know Ole Stokholm Jepsen in this profile.
Connect with Ole on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Water for Eastern Equatoria here.
Unlocking sustainable food production: a path to economic growth and environmental stewardship
Developing sustainable food production at both local and regional levels holds significant potential for generating employment and income in communities of all sizes, including peri-urban areas, while also enhancing food security. Additionally, there is an opportunity to foster export and import activities within the region and to the EU, particularly with high-value products.
Focusing on local production will also reduce the need for long-distance transport of basic foodstuffs, leading to lower CO2 emissions and minimising food waste.
Despite having suitable land, water, and human resources, many countries in Africa and the Middle East continue to import large quantities of food from distant sources. To address this, food production should be tailored to adapt to changes in the climate, minimise greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance CO2 sequestration. It should also promote a healthy environment, provide clean drinking water, support nature conservation, and preserve biodiversity.
The opportunities for sustainable development are vast, and any interventions should be rooted in dialogue among all affected parties. This approach should consider local traditions, social cohesion, and the lessons learned from both past and ongoing initiatives, involving everyone—men and women, young and old, educated and uneducated alike.
Optimising local food production: strategic interventions for agricultural success
Optimising local food production begins by promoting cultivation in areas with favorable conditions to maximise yields, preserve biodiversity, and enhance overall productivity. Various crops, including root vegetables like cassava, sweet potatoes, and Irish potatoes, along with grains such as rice, maize, sorghum, millet, barley, and wheat, as well as legumes like peas, beans, and lentils, are already being successfully cultivated in many parts of Africa. Additionally, fruits like bananas, avocados, and mangoes, along with vegetables, meats, dairy, and fish, contribute to the region’s diverse agricultural output.
However, to further improve agricultural economics and food security in the region, there is a pressing need for targeted regional research. This research should focus on identifying the most suitable crops and adapting them to local conditions using practical, hands-on technologies tailored to the climate, soil, water resources, environment, and traditional practices of the people.
It is crucial for farmers to see that intensive cultivation of small areas can yield significant results. This can be achieved with the resources they have, through proper soil management, fertilisation (potentially with compost), selecting the right seed varieties, and employing effective techniques for planting, watering, weeding, and pest control through integrated pest management. Many farmers could potentially harvest two to three crops per year and sell fresh produce directly at the farm gate.
Leveraging affordable water-harvesting solutions to combat climate change
Integrated sustainable solutions for climate adaptation and development
Incorporating ecological principles into climate adaptation efforts is crucial. By preventing soil depletion and supporting diverse biodiversity and sustainable crops, we can enhance CO2 sequestration. Rainwater harvesting, a long-standing tradition in many farming communities, including among nomads, has become an essential practice, particularly in areas where rainfall is unpredictable and insufficient. Intensifying rainwater harvesting can ensure that collected water is available throughout the year, especially during droughts, significantly reducing the impact of such disasters.
In regions prone to flooding, it is vital for local communities and authorities to collaborate on creating infrastructure to effectively divert excess water. A comprehensive, integrated effort that builds on successful initiatives is essential for improving nature and biodiversity in pastoral areas across the Sudan-Sahel belt of Africa. This includes expanding rainwater harvesting, increasing tree planting, and establishing pastoral-owned nurseries for drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs, all of which contribute to increased CO2 sequestration. Enhancing the living conditions of pastoral communities also makes it more difficult for terrorist groups to operate, thereby improving regional security.
A potential gamechanger in this effort is the use of 'silt from Greenland's glaciers,' which offers significant promise for improving soil fertility, food security, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation. This concept should be integrated into Denmark's new Africa plan and the EU's cooperative efforts, with strong support from key stakeholders such as Danish infrastructure giants, pension companies, and international investors.
In June this year, Ole published En finger i jorden (A Finger in the Ground) with HISTORIA Publishing, describing his experiences in development cooperation between the Global South and the Global North for over 50 years, with the last 20 years being in conflict countries. In the book, he also addresses some of the major challenges such as migration, sustainable food production, and biodiversity. The book is published in Danish, but an English version is in the works.
Learn more in this LinkedIn post.
To complement these initiatives, several parallel development processes should be pursued:
Gender equality
Promoting gender equality is vital for balanced population growth, economic development, and long-term peace and stability. Some African and Middle Eastern countries have already taken important steps toward creating laws to promote gender equality, providing a foundation upon which to build.
Youth activation
With youth comprising 70-80% of the population in many Global South countries, engaging and empowering this demographic is essential. Encouraging young people to remain in their local communities and become driving forces in sustainable development is critical. Early activation through sports, games, and 4H clubs can help youth see and experience opportunities for creating a better future.
Establishment of development funds
Development funds should support these necessary initiatives, primarily driven by private actors. Matching grants, where recipients co-finance part of the investments, can foster a greater sense of ownership and responsibility among beneficiaries.
Private sector development
Market development is a key component of private sector growth. For agricultural production to be commercially viable, farmers must have access to markets where their products are in demand. Supporting access to these markets is crucial during the development phase.
These themes hold the greatest potential for initiating a long-term, committed cooperative process. Starting with small, successful initiatives can instill hope, faith, and trust in the possibility of success, laying a strong foundation for sustained collaboration. These initiatives could be integrated into the new Danish Africa plan and a broader EU strategy aimed at enhancing local and regional food security, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating migration to the EU.
