Refugee Youth Lead Solutions for Integration in Kenya's Turkana County
Kakuma, 22 April 2026
Young refugees in Turkana County are taking charge of their own futures, presenting concrete proposals to improve opportunities and safety rather than waiting to be included. Through a groundbreaking initiative supported by UNHCR and the Netherlands Embassy, these youth leaders are shifting from being seen as beneficiaries to recognised change-makers. The programme addresses daily barriers including limited socio-economic opportunities and xenophobia whilst fostering social cohesion between refugee and host communities. This approach demonstrates how those closest to challenges often hold the most practical solutions.
From Beneficiaries to Change-Makers
The Youth Leaders Engagement, convened by the Refugee Consortium of Kenya on 21 April 2026, brought together refugee youth from diverse urban communities alongside key partners including UNHCR Kenya and the Department of Refugee Services [1]. Each participant arrived with their own story, shaped by lived experience, resilience, and a deep desire to be part of the solutions affecting their lives [1]. As conversations unfolded, young leaders spoke openly about the barriers they navigate daily, from limited access to socio-economic opportunities to experiences of exclusion and xenophobia [1]. The discussions proved honest, thoughtful, and grounded in real experiences, serving as a clear reminder that those closest to the issues are also closest to the solutions [1].
Practical Solutions Emerge from Lived Experience
Beyond sharing challenges, the young leaders brought forward practical ideas on how to improve access to opportunities, create safer and more inclusive spaces, and ensure that refugee youth are meaningfully engaged in decision-making processes [1]. The engagement created room not just for dialogue, but for connection, collaboration, and leadership, fundamentally shifting the narrative from seeing refugee youth as beneficiaries to recognising them as active contributors and change-makers [1]. The initiative reflects on what it means to live and grow within host communities whilst addressing the urgent need to strengthen trust, understanding, and social cohesion [1].
PROSPECTS Partnership Expands Opportunities
The Netherlands Embassy in Kenya has partnered with UNHCR to work alongside Turkana County Government, DRS Kenya, UNICEF Kenya, the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, and the International Labour Organization under the PROSPECTS Partnership [2]. This collaboration aims to advance pathways to inclusion in Turkana County and beyond, expanding access to education, skills, livelihoods and protection for both refugees and host communities [2]. The coordinated and integrated approach strengthens government-led service delivery whilst supporting key frameworks such as the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Plan (KISEDP) and the Shirika Plan [2].
Building Sustainable Integration Systems
The partnership ensures that refugees and host communities are increasingly served through shared systems, creating a foundation for long-term integration rather than temporary assistance [2]. This approach recognises that sustainable solutions require structural changes to service delivery mechanisms rather than parallel systems that may inadvertently perpetuate separation [GPT]. The initiative demonstrates how international cooperation, when properly coordinated with local government structures, can create pathways for meaningful inclusion that benefit entire communities rather than operating in isolation [2].