Danish Refugee Council - Nairobi, Kenya

DRC has been operating in Kenya since 2005, where we assist refugees and displacement-affected communities by implementing protection and livelihoods activities that increase their self-reliance and expand opportunities for a dignified life. DRC works in Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, as well as in Nairobi and Mombasa to assist urban-based refugees.

DRC has developed partnerships with various UN, NGOs, and government partners in order to advance a solutions agenda for displacement affected populations in Kenya. DRC strongly believes that the durable solutions agenda is in the interest of all including refugees who possess capacities to realize their social and economic potential while reducing the burden on the hosting communities. Solutions oriented interventions place refugees in  

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a better position to eventually achieve and realize a durable solution.

Dadaab

DRC Kenya is UNHCR’s lead partner in livelihood projects in Dadaab, where we undertake a wide range of livelihood support interventions for refugees and the host population, including academic and vocational scholarship programmes for the youth, savings and loan groups, market value-chain development and small enterprise development.

DRC leads the Gender-Based Violence prevention and response interventions in Ifo-1 camp with activities ranging from community-based prevention and awareness-raising to direct response services (case management and counselling) to survivors.

DRC is implementing an innovative agriculture project In Dagahaley and Ifo aimed at imparting knowledge and skills in modern agricultural techniques while diversifying the community’s diet.

DRC is currently supporting the voluntary repatriation of refugees to Somalia by issuing unconditional cash grants and is part of the VolRep Taskforce in Dadaab. In addition, DRC in partnership with WFP will be conducting SCOPE registration of all returnees from Dadaab. The registered Somali returnees will be issue with SCOPE cards which will have six months food ration vouchers as part of the return assistance package.

Nairobi and Mombasa – Urban refugee programme

Nairobi hosts 65,181 registered refugees, while Mombasa hosts approximately 50,000 refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, Congo, Rwanda, Eritrea and South Sudan. DRC assistance for urban refugees involves accessing protection from violence and other forms of rights violations, including gender-based violence. In addition, DRC seeks to empower refugees and promote self-reliance through practical livelihood interventions, professional and vocational skills training. DRC is also involved in conducting advocacy activities including the lobbying for the development of a new refugee legal framework and national policy on refugee management.

Kakuma

The political crisis in South Sudan that started in December 2013 and the ensuing conflict brought a large number of refugees to Kenya a majority of whom are women and children including a high number of separated and unaccompanied children. DRC’s programme supports refugee youth and adolescents in Kakuma Refugee Camp with life skills, resilience, training and scholarships alongside livelihood and vocational skills development. In response to the large numbers and existing trauma amongst women, DRC initiated a women and girls empowerment project in 2015 specifically aimed at enhancing resilience and promoting positive coping strategies. DRC has recently acquired implementing partner status of UNHCR and will also be implementing protection related activities in Kalobeyei camp – which is a new camp opened near the Kakuma refugee camp to host South Sudanese refugees.