Refugee-Led Organisation Transforms Lives After Breaking Six-Year Registration Freeze
Nairobi, 23 April 2026
A grassroots women’s empowerment group in Kakuma Refugee Camp has secured legal recognition after community-based organisation registration remained frozen from 2017 to 2023. Girl Power Action Initiative’s breakthrough came through strategic advocacy that reopened registration pathways, demonstrating how proper documentation transforms informal community groups into recognised entities capable of accessing international funding and partnerships.
From Underground Operations to Legal Recognition
Girl Power Action Initiative began operations in 2021 in Kakuma Refugee Camp, home to over 310,000 refugees [2]. Despite lacking legal recognition or a dedicated centre, the organisation reached over 2,000 girls through school-based sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence awareness programmes during its first two years [2]. The organisation’s founder, Sudi Omar, faced significant challenges during this period, explaining that “the challenge was not having access to the real officers, not being listened to, and people not taking seriously what we were offering to the community” [2]. The registration freeze that began in 2017 and lasted until 2023 prevented community-based organisations from obtaining legal status, severely limiting their ability to access formal funding and partnerships [2].
Strategic Advocacy Opens Registration Pathway
The breakthrough came in 2023 when Girl Power Action Initiative approached the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) for support [2]. RCK’s advocacy efforts with the Social Development Officer proved crucial in reopening the registration pathway that had been closed for six years [2]. According to participant representative Uwayo, “What matters most was the advocacy of RCK talking to the Social Development Officer (SDO)” [2]. This advocacy work, conducted through RCK’s Wezesha project in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, not only facilitated registration but also provided comprehensive capacity building support [2]. RCK delivered a three-day community-based organisation training followed by sustained mentorship in resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, and proposal writing [2].
Immediate Impact on Funding and Programming Capacity
The combination of legal registration and capacity building training produced immediate results for Girl Power Action Initiative. The organisation secured its first grant from Global Whole fund, followed by a USD 20,000 grant from Global Hope for 2026 to expand livelihoods programming [2]. Registration enabled the organisation to open a bank account, which significantly increased donor trust, as founder Sudi Omar noted: “The moment you have registration certificate, you can open a bank account where donors can trust you, not sending money to personal accounts” [2]. The enhanced credibility also led to formal partnerships with major organisations including UNHCR, which funded a gender-based violence project that reached over 2,100 women, girls, and men, exceeding its original target of 1,500 people [2].
Expanding Skills Training and Economic Empowerment
With legal recognition secured, Girl Power Action Initiative has significantly expanded its livelihoods programming. The organisation has trained 50 women and girls in fashion and design across two cohorts, with participants reporting daily earnings of approximately 100 shillings for some and weekly earnings of around 1,000 shillings for others [2]. The training model includes graduates working from home on Fridays and experienced participants training new cohorts [2]. Plans for 2026 include expanding the livelihood programme to include reusable sanitary pad production, a fashion and design hub, and bead making [2]. The United States Refugee Initiative (USRI) is investing in a one-month training programme to establish a pad production hub using girls already trained in tailoring [2]. Founder Sudi Omar emphasised the transformative nature of registration, stating: “Honestly speaking, Girl Power is not where it is without registration” [2].
How to Access RCK’s Legal Aid Services
The Refugee Consortium of Kenya provides comprehensive legal aid services to displaced populations through multiple channels [1]. The organisation operates ongoing legal aid programmes and mobile clinics, offering representation for asylum seekers and refugees in courts, detention facilities, and during refugee status determination processes [1]. RCK expands its reach through paralegals and pro-bono advocate engagement, alongside stakeholder forums and legal information hubs [1]. The organisation disseminates educational materials and has produced accessible resources including the Refugees Act 2021 Popular Version, available in English, Kiswahili, Nuer, and Dinka [1]. Over the next five years, RCK plans to continue advising and representing displaced populations on legal matters related to their welfare and rights, with strengthened partnerships with institutions responsible for justice administration and governance [1]. Recent developments include ongoing collaboration with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, as evidenced by joint visits to Kakuma and Kalobeyei in April 2026, where priorities included improving registration processes and expanding alternative justice systems [3][4].