Human mobility in West Africa is deeply embedded in socio-economic demands and environmental variability, yet existing studies often treat these drivers in isolation. This paper develops an integrated analytical model to examine the dynamic interplay between migration, social demand structures, and environmental change among the Frafra communities of Northern Ghana and the Biali communities of Northern Benin. Drawing upon a synthesis of established migration theories and empirical evidence from West African scholarship, the study conceptualizes migration as a multi-scalar adaptive strategy shaped by institutional, ecological, and socio-cultural pressures. A comparative modeling framework is proposed, combining demographic data, socio-economic indicators, and environmental stress variables to simulate migration decision-making processes. The findings indicate that migration is neither purely economically driven nor solely environmentally induced; rather, it emerges from a complex interaction of livelihood constraints, social obligations, and ecological risks. The study highlights the role of population pressure, land tenure transformations, and climate variability in restructuring migration patterns. It further identifies asymmetries in adaptive capacity between the two regions due to institutional and infrastructural differences. The research contributes to migration studies by offering a system-based framework that integrates environmental and social dimensions, providing a basis for policy interventions targeting sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience in West Africa.

Migration modeling, environmental change, social demand structures, West Africa

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