The Horn of Africa is grappling with a deepening crisis of forced displacement. Prolonged conflicts in Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan are the leading causes of this situation. The Horn region hosts over 4.5 million refugees, most of whom are in protracted displacement. As we mark World Refugee Day today, the conversation needs to shift from aid to agency, going beyond short-term humanitarian fixes to sustainable development models that empower refugees and host communities.
Refugees are not mere victims needing handouts. They are resilient individuals with great potential. With the right opportunities, they can drive economic growth in host countries. The humanitarian approach long used in the Horn of Africa is unsustainable, often excluding refugees from jobs and livelihoods. The refugee problem, fueled by protracted regional instability, demands a bold new strategy.
Sustainable refugee management strategies can only be realized through the development approach. Development-focused models build resilience and self-reliance by providing refugees with opportunities to work, start businesses, and contribute to local economies.
The Kampala Declaration, issued by member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), emphasizes the importance of jobs, livelihoods, and self-reliance for refugees. On this basis, several interventions by IGAD member countries have been initiated. Kenyas Shirika is one such example.
The Shirika plan is a government-led initiative designed to support refugees and host communities. The plan aims to ensure the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees and host communities, as well as the transformation of camps into integrated settlements.
In Ethiopia, the Jobs Compact, supported by the World Bank, aims to create 100,000 jobs for refugees and host communities. Uganda’s integrated refugee hosting model, if fully leveraged, could establish a global standard for empowering refugees.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian approaches too often dominate, slowing progress toward self-reliance.
To address refugee challenges in the region, state and non-state actors must deliberately shift their focus to development programming. This will, among other things, entail the inclusion of refugees in development plans at both national and subnational levels.
Planning for refugees alongside host communities will enable them to make meaningful contributions to the economy. Sectors, including such as the digital economy, agriculture, and manufacturing, will benefit. With inclusion in plans, there will be greater production and increased purchasing power.
The World Bank (2023) estimates that every dollar invested in refugee-inclusive development yields up to two dollars in economic returns for host countries, a compelling reason to act.
Education is critical to this transformation. Expanding access to quality education equips refugees with skills to participate meaningfully in the economy. Investing in vocational training programs ensures that refugees have access to employment and business opportunities. Education can produce professionals in various fields, including engineering and healthcare.
Equally important is engaging the private sector. This sector can drive financial inclusion and deliver essential services, such as infrastructure and amenities, through partnerships with governments and other stakeholders.
Many refugees come with valuable skills and talents. If well harnessed, these talents and skills can strengthen host economies. Thriving businesses in the refugee settlements of Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya, exemplify how refugees can make meaningful contributions to the economy. Development approaches also promote equity, ensuring both refugees and host communities benefit. Equity fosters harmony and coexistence.
Management of refugees in the Horn of Africa region should no longer be as though refugees are a burden. Refugees must be empowered to become agents of change. Empowerment calls for far-reaching shifts to reduce the reliance on humanitarian solutions and focus more on development. Development models are not just about economics; they are about dignity and opportunity for refugees and host communities.
On this World Refugee Day, the call is to redefine what it means to host refugees. It should not just be about opening borders but about opening opportunities.
In rethinking the current humanitarian refugee response, we aim to harness the potential of refugees to make meaningful contributions to nation-building. This is the time for action. Let us move from aid to agency.
The writer is a forced migration specialist (olakarichie@gmail.com)
