Addressing climate and conflict-related loss and damage in fragile states: a focus on Mali

This paper examines the compounding impacts of climate change, conflict and socioeconomic vulnerabilities on households in Mopti, Mali. Almost a billion people live in countries that are classified as fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). This figure has nearly doubled in the past 20 years and is expected to rise substantially by 2030.

FCAS must grapple with complex, multidimensional and compounding risks, including climate change, political instability, economic fragility, weak governance and poor resilience. Supporting these states is an urgent global challenge. Mali typifies these issues. Ranked 188 out of 193 countries in the 2022 Human Development Index, Mali faces protracted conflict, escalating climate vulnerabilities and chronic development deficits.

The Mopti region is an epicentre of these crises: droughts and floods have devastated livelihoods, while conflict has displaced thousands of people and disrupted social and economic systems. This paper analyses both economic and non-economic loss and damage using the Comprehensive Climate Impact Quantification toolkit and offers evidence-based recommendations for building resilience in fragile and conflict-affected settings.