IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1622-d1339500.html

Migration Dynamics in Rejaf Payam, South Sudan: Inbound and Outbound Patterns and Impact on Those Left Behind

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Sassi

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

Abstract

Exploring migration patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa is vital for unravelling the intricate interplay of demographic, economic, social, and cultural forces shaping the region. This paper specifically centres on migration patterns within Rejaf Payam, Juba County, South Sudan. Its aim is to shed light on both inbound and outbound migration and their impact on vulnerable individuals who choose to stay in their original communities, with a particular focus on women. This study complements the existing literature that exclusively concentrates on the experiences of internally displaced persons and refugees either at their arrival destinations or during the migration process and overlooks the implications for those left behind. The qualitative research methodology proposed in this study is grounded in the utilisation of focus group discussions, specifically engaging traditional authorities and esteemed community stakeholders. Conducted by adequately trained enumerators, these discussions took place in March and June 2023. The methodology, features of the investigated area, migration patterns, and their effects on non-migrants are detailed, concluding with policy implications derived from qualitative evidence. The qualitative findings reveal that economic opportunities, insecurity, and adverse weather conditions predominantly drive migration. However, migrants are not reaching displaced or refugee camps only. In the investigated area, migration is often transitory or seasonal, with most migrants returning to their communities. The study highlights the adverse effects of migration on non-migrant women, who are left to assume the role of sole breadwinners and face economic hardships, social isolation, and increased vulnerability. The study recommends interventions focused on women’s empowerment, skill-building, economic opportunities, awareness campaigns to change societal attitudes, social protection programs, and psychosocial support services to address these challenges. It also emphasises the need for enhanced data collection and research efforts to inform evidence-based policies and interventions. A collaborative approach is crucial for effective implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Sassi, 2024. "Migration Dynamics in Rejaf Payam, South Sudan: Inbound and Outbound Patterns and Impact on Those Left Behind," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1622-:d:1339500
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1622/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1622/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Katarzyna Grabska, 2013. "The Return of Displaced Nuer in Southern Sudan: Women Becoming Men?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 44(5), pages 1135-1157, September.
    2. Luis G. BECERRA - VALBUENA & Katrin MILLOCK, 2021. "Gendered migration responses to drought in Malawi," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(3), pages 437-477, September.
    3. Nkamleu, Guy Blaise & Fox, Louise, 2006. "Taking Stock of Research on Regional Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 15112, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Becerra-Valbuena, Luis G. & Millock, Katrin, 2021. "Gendered migration responses to drought in Malawi," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(3), pages 437-477, September.
    5. D. F. Bryceson & T. C. Mbara & D. Maunder, 2003. "Livelihoods, daily mobility and poverty in sub-saharan Africa," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 177-196, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chhanda Ruj & Aloke Majumdar & Somnath Ghosal, 2022. "Political ecology and hydrosocial relation: a study on drought and associated migration in a semi-arid district of West Bengal, India," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 709-734, December.
    2. Hugues Champeaux & Elsa Gautrain & Karine Marazyan, 2024. "Men’s premarital migration and marriage payments: Evidence from Indonesia," DeFiPP Working Papers 2402, University of Namur, Development Finance and Public Policies.
    3. German Caruso & Valerie Mueller & Alexis Villacis, 2024. "Leveraging unsupervised machine learning to examine women's vulnerability to climate change," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(4), pages 1355-1378, December.
    4. Edouard Pignède, 2025. "Who carries the burden of climate change? Heterogeneous impact of droughts in sub‐Saharan Africa," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 107(3), pages 925-957, May.
    5. Marco Letta & Pierluigi Montalbano & Adriana Paolantonio, 2024. "Understanding the climate change‐migration nexus through the lens of household surveys: An empirical review to assess data gaps," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1234-1275, September.
    6. Lanati, Mauro & Sanfilippo, Marco & Santi, Filippo, 2023. "Aid and internal migration in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    7. Mauro Lanati & Rainer Thiele, 2025. "The Impact of Regional Growth on Internal Migration: A District-Level Analysis for Malawi," Working Papers - Economics wp2025_15.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    8. Elmallakh, Nelly Youssef Louis William & Faures, Diego & Gatti, Roberta V. & Islam, Asif Mohammed, 2025. "The Labor Market Effects of Droughts in MENA," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11191, The World Bank.
    9. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2016. "Changes in daily mobility patterns in Dakar (Senegal)," Post-Print halshs-01346869, HAL.
    10. Poignant, Adrian, 2023. "Small-scale mining and agriculture: Evidence from northwestern Tanzania," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Pablo De Roulet & Jérôme Chenal & Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka & Uttam Pudasaini, 2024. "Mapping Rural Mobility in the Global South: Case Studies of Participatory GIS Approach for Assessments of Daily Movement Needs and Practice in Nepal and Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-24, October.
    12. Acheampong, Ransford A. & Asabere, Stephen Boahen, 2022. "Urban expansion and differential accessibility by car and public transport in the Greater Kumasi city-region, Ghana—A geospatial modelling approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    13. Andreasen, Manja Hoppe & Møller-Jensen, Lasse, 2017. "Access to the city: Mobility patterns, transport and accessibility in peripheral settlements of Dar es Salaam," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 20-29.
    14. Chunfang Liu & Bin Yu & Yue Zhu & Licheng Liu & Pengjie Li, 2019. "Measurement of Rural Residents’ Mobility in Western China: A Case Study of Qingyang, Gansu Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, April.
    15. Nkurunziza, Alphonse & Zuidgeest, Mark & Brussel, Mark & Van Maarseveen, Martin, 2012. "Examining the potential for modal change: Motivators and barriers for bicycle commuting in Dar-es-Salaam," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 249-259.
    16. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2015. "Assessment of mobility inequalities and income data collection. Methodological issues and a case study (Douala, Cameroon) [Evaluation des inégalités de mobilité et recueil des revenus. Questions méthodologies et étude de cas (Douala, Cameroun)]," Post-Print halshs-01235185, HAL.
    17. Mendiate, Classio Joao & Nkurunziza, Alphonse & Machanguana, Constancio Augusto & Bernardo, Roberto, 2022. "Pedestrian travel behaviour and urban form: Comparing two small Mozambican cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    18. Ajayi Julius & Aworemi Remi & Wojuade Christopher & Adebayo Toyin, 2020. "Problems Affecting the Accessibility of Physically-Challenged Individuals to Intermediate Public Transport Services in Oyo State, Nigeria," Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Global Challenges, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 114-120, February.
    19. Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2013. "The puzzle of mobility and access to the city in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 56-64.
    20. Schneiderheinze, Claas & Dick, Eva & Lücke, Matthias & Rahim, Afaf & Schraven, Benjamin & Villa, Matteo, 2018. "Regional integration and migration between low-and-middle-income countries: Regional initiatives need to be strengthened," Economics Discussion Papers 2018-82, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1622-:d:1339500. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.