United Nations Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Speed Up Vital Refugee Aid in Kenya
Kalobeyei, 10 July 2026
By deploying artificial intelligence in Kenya, the UN is cutting administrative backlogs, freeing up crucial hours for staff to deliver direct, life-saving support to refugees.
A Digital Shift in Turkana West
In July 2026, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) integrated artificial intelligence technology to streamline operations and enhance the delivery of essential services in Kenya’s Kalobeyei settlement [GPT]. Located in the Turkana West region, this digital initiative aims to improve refugee resettlement processing, legal assistance, healthcare, education access, housing allocation, and gender-based violence support [GPT]. By leveraging these advanced tools, the agency seeks to reduce processing backlogs and ensure faster, more targeted aid delivery for the thousands of refugees residing in the settlement [GPT].
It is critical to distinguish the Kalobeyei settlement from the neighbouring, older Kakuma refugee camp. While Kakuma has historically operated under a traditional camp model, Kalobeyei was established to promote self-reliance and socio-economic integration between refugees and the host community [GPT]. The July 2026 AI deployment is specifically tailored to Kalobeyei’s integrated framework, addressing localised administrative bottlenecks to optimise service delivery for both displaced populations and host communities [GPT].
Harnessing Global AI Frameworks and Safeguards
This deployment in Kenya is part of a broader global strategy, as the UNHCR currently manages data for approximately 42 million refugees worldwide [1]. To manage this massive scale, the agency has implemented platforms like SHAPE, a secure generative AI tool used to draft the 2026–2029 Multi-Year Strategy for Bangladesh, which hosts the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar [1]. By utilising these systems, the agency aims to replicate such efficiencies in East Africa, transforming how field data is processed and utilised [1][GPT].
UNHCR Chief Barham Salih emphasised that when AI is used responsibly and with robust safeguards, it has the potential to reduce administrative burdens, improve analysis, and accelerate decision-making [1]. This efficiency directly translates to better on-the-ground support, freeing up staff to spend more time delivering protection and advancing long-term solutions [1]. Senior Protection Officer Hiroshi Miyauchi noted that generative AI “didn’t just speed up our paperwork; it gave us back the hours we needed to sit with refugees and host community members, to validate assumptions and fine-tune solutions” [1].
Mitigating Risks and Expanding Partnerships
While deploying tools like the Risk Management Assistant—which is currently employed for field mission planning, partner selection for financial assistance, and supply chain management [1]—the UNHCR remains highly cautious. Drawing on 75 years of experience in refugee protection, the agency is actively mitigating risks such as data leaks, hallucinations, and algorithmic bias by collaborating with other UN agencies, governments, and technology firms [1]. Rebeca Moreno Jimenez, UNHCR Innovation Officer, highlighted this human-centric approach, stating that “everything that incorporates AI needs to be based around the people who will use it” [1].
Looking ahead, the UNHCR is developing a “Digital Gateway” portal to automate registration and service access, alongside an AI-driven early warning system using over 40 datasets and satellite imagery to predict displacement caused by conflict or climate events [1]. These efforts are bolstered by the UNHCR’s Data Innovation Fund, an incubator providing internal teams with mentorship, learning, and technical support to scale data-driven solutions [2]. This push toward structured digital systems matches Kenya’s wider developmental trajectory; on 7 July 2026, the Kenyan Government’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa to advance talent mobility and skills development [3].