Localization of Protection Programming in Garissa & Turkana, Kenya
The protection of refugees in Kenya is a critical issue due to the significant number of refugee men, women, children and youth in protracted displacement, due to conflict, violence, natural disasters, and other factors. Kenya is host to two of the largest refugee camps in the world – in Garissa and Turkana counties, known as Kenya’s marginalised counties in the arid and semi-arid land regions. In a context of commitments to durable solutions, and since the World Humanitarian Summit 2016 and the Grand Bargain, there have been increased calls for those who are closest to the crises to have more control of resources, more agency and greater decision-making powers. The process of “localisation” aims at creating more equitable, power sharing and decision making systems that support those in need of protection. Localisation holds the potential to foster sustainability by enabling an environment where displacement-affected communities are able to handle challenges, promoting local ownership and strengthening self-protection capacities.