World Refugee Day: Socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance of refugees and host communities, key to Kenya’s development

On June 20, Kenya, Africa’s fifth largest refugee hosting country will join the rest of world in marking World Refugee Day. This is a time to honour the resilience of close to half a million refugees who have fled their homes due to war, violence and persecution as well Kenyan communities that open their doors to welcome them.

Press release

Nairobi June 17, 2020 On June 20, Kenya, Africa’s fifth largest refugee hosting country will join the rest of world in marking World Refugee Day. This is a time to honour the resilience of close to half a million refugees who have fled their homes due to war, violence and persecution as well Kenyan communities that open their doors to welcome them.

There is now widespread recognition that refugees and other forcibly displaced persons contribute to host societies by providing markets, bringing skills, extensive social capital, talents and competences that can contribute to the development of host countries. This is exemplified in the Global Compact on refugees adopted in 2019, a framework aiming to strengthen the international response to large movements of refugees and protracted refugee situations.

In the wake of this new refugee accord, a new Partnership initiative has been launched with the support of the Government of the Netherlands that brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF and the World Bank to support a transformative approach, jointly put in place with the government of Kenya. Partners aims to shift from purely humanitarian assistance to forced displacement to offering long term development prospects that includes the host communities.

Known as “PROSPECTS”, the Partnership focuses on three broad areas that are critical to enabling forcibly displaced persons to overcome their specific vulnerabilities, and host communities to pursue their own development efforts in transformed environments. The three areas are: education and learning; jobs and social protection; and protection and legal status. It will coordinate activities in two regions, encompassing eight countries in East Africa (including Kenya) and in the Middle East.

The Partnership responds to the calls made by the global compact on refugees issued by the UN General Assembly in 2018, for greater international solidarity and support for refugees and the countries that host them, including measures that strengthen the self-reliance so of refugees and contribution to their host communities.

“Socio-economic inclusion for refugees and host communities will go a long way in addressing the protracted nature of the refugee situation in Kenya, while creating shared prosperity and social cohesion in the communities where they live, says Caroline Njuki, ILO’s technical advisor for Prospects.

For media queries or to arrange interview on Prospects and ILO’s work with refugees in Kenya, please contact: Caroline Njuki, ILO Chief technical adviser, PROSPECTS at: njuki@ilo.org or +254710602333

For more information about the Partnership: www.ilo.org/prospects

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