Systematic review of business strategies for climate-induced migration adaptation through ESG in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nkiko, Cedric ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5537-3750 (2026) Systematic review of business strategies for climate-induced migration adaptation through ESG in Sub-Saharan Africa. Discover Sustainability, 7 (271). pp. 1-30. ISSN 2662-9984

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Abstract

Climate change has displaced millions across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), deepening livelihood precarity and limiting prospects for return or resettlement. Yet the intersection of climate-induced migration and business sustainability strategies remains underexamined in both scholarship and practice. This systematic review investigates how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies, typically applied for compliance and value creation, can be leveraged to enhance resilience and indirectly mitigate migration pressures. Drawing on evidence from the agriculture, energy, and service sectors, the review finds that while ESG interventions often support risk management and community stability, they seldom engage explicitly with migration dynamics. The paper highlights both the promise and limitations of current ESG practices and calls for more intentional integration of migration-sensitive approaches into business sustainability planning. It concludes by proposing the Sustainable ESG–Migration Integration Framework (SEMIF), a five-stage model to guide ESG–migration alignment and strengthen private sector contributions to adaptation and resilience.

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