Who did we meet? Across four days, the team held meetings with a wide range of institutions, including HESPI (Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute), the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, the Ethiopian Youth Federation, the Embassy of the Netherlands, the African Union, UNECA, UNDP, IOM, OWS Development Fund, and AFM (Association for Forced Migrants). The team also visited a local primary school, where children are already being introduced to climate-related topics.

What did we learn? Several key messages emerged from these exchanges. Climate is the first, not the last, factor driving migration in Ethiopia — not economics, as often misrepresented in Europe. Most migration is internal or within Africa, not towards Europe. Legal migration channels exist but are underused, often because people are unaware or desperate. Young people are particularly vulnerable, and education and job creation are critical to addressing the root causes. Europe and Africa must work as partners, not in a donor-recipient dynamic.