ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to present the state of the art of research on water, migration, and development and how they are interlinked. In policy debate as well as in some research a linear and close to causal relationship has been assumed between water scarcity and migration. This chapter provides a critical perspective on some of these assumptions and highlights the complexities that is behind the decision to migrate. New research undertaken by the World Bank, which includes the analysis of large quantities of migration data through Machine Learning, found that around 10% of migration is directly water related, underscoring that many of the reasons to migrate are related to people seeking job and livelihood opportunities. Encouraging a critical perspective and emphasizing complexity the chapter highlights the Middle East as a potential precursor to better understand the water, migration, and development agenda, as water scarcity is, generally, more prevalent in that region than in others. Finally, ideas for policy measures – including people-centred investments – are discussed.
