1. By Eunice Ndonga-Githinji
Meeting the SDGs: Linking Development Cooperation to Humanitarian Responses and Comprehensive Solutions for Refugees and Migrants With the continuing rise of narratives of exclusion directed towards refugees and migrants, what lessons or initiatives from civil society organizations in developing countries can be employed to promote greater social cohesion and inclusion in refugee-receiving countries?
By Eunice Ndonga-Githinji
Executive Director
Refugee Consortium of Kenya

2. Content Context CSO Lessons on:
Elements that contribute to a more positive public portrayal and opinion of refugees to improve social cohesion
Community based and individual self-protection strategies by refugees
Role of international and national actors in ensuring refugee programming is more sustainable and enhances opportunities for integration and inclusion

3. Context
The Eastern and horn of Africa region has experienced protracted conflicts for many years often resulting in large scale forced displacements. It hosts an estimated 3.3 million refugees with 11 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Kenya has hosted thousands of refugees for over 20 years -mainly from Somalia, Ethiopia, S. Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda, Eritrea, and Uganda among others-can have long-term impact on hosting communities, including tensions and conflicts
Globally, more and more utterances of exclusion being seen, including increased linkage of refugees to general insecurity and terrorism in particular- this is likely to breed xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance
Kenya uses encampment policy to manage refugees- protracted nature of the camps with limited durable solutions
Resettlement quotas are limited and local integration has not been an option

4. What elements can contribute to a more positive public portrayal and opinion of refugees improving social cohesion between refugees and host communities? How can various stakeholders facilitate this process?
Common and effective messaging – create good understanding of the exact profile of refugees and the driving factors by humanitarian actors, CSOs, government and the media;
Countering xenophobic attitudes- highlighting refugee human interest stories to portray positive narratives about refugees-social media platforms, mainstream media, training of key actors such as media and government officials on refugee rights and obligations, sensitizing the general public (CSOs, UNHCR, INGOs)
Empowerment of refugees through appropriate skills to build/ strengthen their resilience and contribute to their well- being and that of host communities-education, health, livelihood opportunities.
Full and deliberate engagement of refugees and host communities as key players – not just passive recipients

5. Cont’d
Training of refugees on rights and obligations-important in ensuring increased inclusion and reduced conflict with the law -CSOs, UNHCR, INGOs etc.
Training law enforcement and judicial officials on refugee rights and refugee management-reduces police harassment, arbitrary detention etc
Highlighting skills/potential that refugees’ have- make host communities aware of the skills, expertise/experiences that refugees –skills mapping-CSOs, government, UNHCR etc.
Integrating refugees in County/local government development plans- to CSOs advocate for integrated approach to programming for host and refugees.
Private sector involvement –more services available to both refugees and host communities

6. To what extent can community based and individual self-protection strategies by refugees themselves provide the degree of safety, security and dignity that they need and are entitled to?
Refugees do and can apply various strategies to promote self safety, security and dignity. Humanitarian actors can build on this to promote more protection.
Forming CBOs and groups-helps them speak with one voice; generate resources and boost resilience-; infusing membership from host community boosts cohesion/ sense of security.
Deliberately pursuing economic and social integration in host countries- some refugees have started small businesses, intermarried with locals etc.

7. Community based and individual self protection strategies cont’d
Involvement in community policing initiatives (sharing information with relevant security personnel) through their leadership structures-religious leaders, elders, youth groups, community based protection monitors etc.
Pursuing education opportunities
Challenges
Inadequate laws to support local integration and promotion of refugee rights in general
Unfriendly policies eg. Encampment policies which restrict freedom of movement and hence economic opportunities
Poverty and lack of decent livelihoods
Exposure to abuse and exploitation
Poor collaboration/ coordination with various actors including government.

8. How can international and national actors best engage with refugee communities and their representatives to make programming for refugees more sustainable and enhance their opportunities for integration and inclusion?
Working in collaboration with refugee leadership structures, organized groupings such as CBOs, youth groups and women groups -views incorporated in programming.
Leverage NGO capacity to advocate with national and local government systems to develop appropriate policies and laws that promote protection of refugees in accordance with international instruments, -advocacy around the amendment of Kenya’s refugee bill 2016; legal awareness
Direct national resources and international financing towards national and local systems that improve services and opportunities for refugees and host communities-more understanding of context.

9. International and national actors engagement cont’d
Direct financing of national actors so that they play a central role in the programming and decision making -in a timely and predictable manner.
Promote increased durable solutions for refugees, including promoting predictable responsibility sharing.
Incorporate lessons learnt from previous humanitarian emergencies –multiyear programming to encourage local integration
Infuse development programming to humanitarian action to promote inclusion and local integration
Strengthen skills training and support for refugees to encourage local integration

10. Thank you