On August 21, 2024, a report based on the Kenya Longitudinal Socioeconomic Study of Refugees and Host Communities was launched at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya.
The study is a component of the Kenya Analytical Program on Forced Displacement, a collaborative effort by the World Bank, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Centre for Effective Global Action (CEGA), funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
The launch event brought together diverse stakeholders, including representatives from ReDSS, governmental and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and policy makers. The report presented comprehensive data on protracted displacement, poverty levels, employment rates, and food insecurity among refugee and host populations. It also offered recommendations for immediate action, medium-term strategies, and long-term solutions. A panel discussion highlighted the report’s relevance to ongoing efforts like the Shirika Plan, emphasizing its potential impact on evidence-based policymaking and programming for forced displacement in Kenya.
Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities in Kenya underscores the urgency of addressing both groups' immediate, mid-term, and long-term needs.
— World Bank Kenya (@WorldBankKenya) August 22, 2024
Download the Report here: https://t.co/ieOFHvUvVJ pic.twitter.com/cS4Sbdsf1X
Contextual background of the research
As of June 2024, Kenya hosts approximately 774,354 registered refugees and asylum seekers, according to UNHCR data. The distribution shows 37.3% in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, 49.7% in Dadaab, and 13% in urban areas. The ongoing crises in neighboring countries suggest a continued influx of refugees. This socioeconomic longitudinal study, the first of its kind in Kenya, compared the status of registered refugees with host communities, providing insights into their living conditions and challenges.
The first wave of the study was conducted between June 2022 and June 2023, surveying more than 9,000 households. It covered refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Dadaab Refugee Complex, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, and urban refugees in Nakuru, Nairobi, and Mombasa. The survey addressed household-level, individual-level, and children’s outcomes.
Key Findings
The study revealed that protracted displacement was highest in Dadaab, where 95% of refugees have lived for over a decade. When it comes to reasons for displacement, 73% of refugees attributed their displacement to at least three reasons, with insecurity being the most dominant factor.
Movement patterns varied across camps. In Kakuma and Kalobeyei, over 80% of refugees never leave the camps, while in Dadaab, 74% of refugees leave the camp at least once a year. The study also found a significant desire for relocation among both refugees and host communities. Forty percent of surveyed refugees expressed a desire to move from camps for better economic opportunities, and over 90% of refugees expressed a desire to move to new countries. Among host community members in camps, 60% expressed a desire to move to urban areas.
Poverty levels were found to be high in the camps, with multidimensional poverty up to 80% higher than in urban areas. Severe multidimensional poverty was highest among Turkana hosts, affecting 86% of those surveyed. Food insecurity was also a major concern, with the highest levels observed among Turkana hosts and refugees. In Nairobi, 67% of refugees and 55.9% of hosts face food insecurity.
The study highlighted the crucial role of aid and assistance in refugee communities. Nearly 100% of refugee households in camps receive food aid coverage. However, gaps remain in social assistance coverage among hosts. In terms of employment, only 14% of camp refugees are employed, compared to 43% of camp hosts. The situation is better for urban refugees, with 54% employed, which is significantly higher than in camps.
Recommendations
Based on the study’s findings, several recommendations were made for immediate action. These include easing restrictions on the right to work and movement, providing upskilling and job search support, implementing demand-side solutions including self-employment opportunities, developing targeted policies for women such as expanding childcare services, and creating integrative initiatives for increased youth engagement in the labor market.
For the medium term, the recommendations focus on addressing spatial inequalities in refugee-hosting regions and strengthening household socioeconomic resilience to shocks. Long-term recommendations for self-reliance and resilience include addressing barriers to education access, incorporating psychosocial wellbeing in health services and programming, and continuing to implement a progressive policy and hosting framework for refugees.
Key takeaways from the forum
The panel discussion following the presentations was a highlight of the event. It featured representatives from the Department of Refugee Services, ReDSS Kenya, R: SEAT East Africa, Maseno University, and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The discussion emphasized the timeliness of the Shirika Plan in addressing integrated solutions for refugees and host communities. Panelists stressed the need to address spatial disparities in Kenya’s Northern Counties and the importance of basing programming and policy interventions on locally-generated evidence, advocating for solutions “For refugees with refugees.”
Patience Kiara, ReDSS Kenya Manager makes her remarks during the panel discussion. She is flanked on the left by the Commissioner for Refugee Affairs at the Department of Refugee Services, John Burugu and on her right, the East Africa Regional Lead for R:Seat Jeanmarie Ishimwe
Patience Kiara, the ReDSS Kenya Manager, underscored the importance of community-centered approaches, stating: “The needs and aspirations of communities must be at the centre of any programming and policy processes. Longitudinal studies of this nature help both policy makers and practitioners to better understand those needs and aspirations and co-create interventions that are not only more locally feasible but also sustainable.“
This sentiment resonated strongly with the audience and other panelists, reinforcing the value of the longitudinal study in informing effective, community-driven solutions. The discussion further highlighted the need for more granular evidence based on the Kenya Longitudinal Socioeconomic Study, recognizing that durable solutions can only be attained through intentional efforts that consider the unique circumstances of both hosts and refugees. As the forum concluded, there was a collective acknowledgment that this study provides a crucial foundation for evidence-based policymaking and programming in the realm of forced displacement in Kenya.
