Policy Coherence and Institutional Responses to Climate Mobility in Ethiopia: Assessing National and Regional Frameworks

Abstract

Background Climate-induced human mobility is a defining challenge in the Horn of Africa, yet the governance architecture designed to manage it is fraught with fragmentation. This article assesses the state of policy coherence for climate mobility governance, analyzing the interplay between national policies in Ethiopia and the sub-regional (IGAD) and continental (AU) frameworks that guide them. Methods Applying the CrossGov Policy Coherence Evaluation Framework, a multi-dimensional policy coherence evaluation framework, this study employed a qualitative, document-based policy analysis that moved beyond a simple description of policies to a systematic diagnosis of their alignment. Results The analysis reveals a governance landscape characterized by severe vertical and horizontal incoherence. While high-level strategic goals are broadly aligned, significant contradictions exist in policy framing, legal and financial instruments, and institutional mandates. The core finding identifies a structural schism between a proactive, long-term climate adaptation paradigm and a reactive, short-term humanitarian paradigm, with no effective bridge between them. Furthermore, progressive, rights-based regional frameworks, such as the Kampala Convention, have not been fully domesticated into Ethiopia’s national operational logic. Conclusions The study concludes that this systemic incoherence undermines the effectiveness of responses, exacerbates the vulnerability of mobile populations, and prevents the potential for mobility to be leveraged as an adaptation strategy. The article provides targeted recommendations for establishing national coordination mechanisms, harmonizing legal frameworks, and fostering integrated approaches to overcome these critical governance gaps.