Research
RESEARCH
Nnaemeka Phil Eke-Okocha researches climate security, migration, and human security.
Phil is a PhD student in the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His research examines how climate change drives and sustains violent conflict, with a focus on the Lake Chad Basin.
ClimBio Frontiers
Phil is an external member of the ClimBio Frontiers Project. The project explores how transnational governance initiatives (TGIs) are delineating the contours of the “climate-biodiversity frontier” as a new governance arena. The project analyzes how TGIs contribute to transformative change in governance by integrating climate and biodiversity goals while simultaneously advancing social justice.
Rondine
Phil is a Member and was previously an International Fellow
Spectrum
Phil reviews for Spectrum: Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Journal
Current Research
Climate-Induced Migration as a Recruiting Mechanism for Violent Groups
This project applies a framework-based analysis of how climate-induced displacement creates conditions that violent armed groups exploit for recruitment in the Lake Chad Basin.
Violent Extremism and Gender Impact
In this project, co-authored with Alice Ba, we ask why the impact of extremism, particularly Boko Haram, affects women differently. We find that it is important to illuminate local and social sources of variation to explain these imapcts.
Understanding Frontiers Governance in Theory and Practice
This project is in collaboration with my colleague Weston Marume and our supervisor Stacy VanDeveer. This work is part of our ongoing ClimBio Frontiers project based at the University of Copenhagen.
Areas of Research
Climate Security and Conflict
I am interested in how climate stress — particularly climate change — intersects with political violence and armed conflict. My work examines the mechanisms through which climate-induced displacement and resource scarcity fuel recruitment into violent groups, with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Migration and Human Security
Forced migration and human security are central concerns across my research and professional work. My
Sustainable Development & Peacebuilding
Across my career, I have worked at the intersection of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and peacebuilding practice. My research and policy engagement explore how education, youth participation, and community-level action can serve as tools for building sustainable peace in conflict-affected regions.
Countering Violent Extremism & Terrorism
My research examines the drivers and dynamics of violent extremism, with a particular focus on Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin. I investigate how factors such as climate-induced displacement, food insecurity, and governance failures create conditions that extremist groups exploit.
Professional Memberships
