This report provides the findings of an evidence mapping designed to support the development of a common refugee research agenda in Kenya, and sets out the state of evidence against the current policy priorities of the Government of Kenya. While there is a relatively well-established body of literature focused on refugees in Kenya that has evolved over the past two decades, the evidence remains both fragmented and has significant gaps. As a result, the recent shifts in Kenya’s approach to hosting refugees highlight the need for a stronger and deeper understanding of issues that have been less visible in a more constrained context. For instance, a previous policy environment that has emphasised encampment has driven a body of research that focuses primarily on camps as succinct units, rather than on ways in which camps are embedded within wider economic and social ecosystems. In addition, a disproportionate amount of research has been generated by individuals and/or organisations from the global North, creating a skewed debate dominated by agendas that are often poorly aligned with the priorities and perspectives of refugees and Kenyans living alongside refugees.
To address these gaps and provide effective solutions for refugees and Kenyan communities, there is a need for a coordinated research effort guided by a common research agenda that can coordinate research efforts, identify and address knowledge gaps, promote evidence-based policy making, and enhance collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Most of all, there is a need to recalibrate the balance of voices and perspectives heard in discussions and decision-making moving forward, particularly in favour of communities most impacted by displacement.
The database used for the report can be found here.
