Study reveals economic growth potential for Kenya's Turkana refugee region
The study also noted a growing demand for digital services, aligning with the large, tech-savvy youth population, despite limited digital infrastructure, especially among refugees.
GENEVA— A new study has identified promising areas for economic growth and job creation in Kenya's Turkana County, home to one of the world's largest refugee camps, writes Winston Mwale.
The value chain assessment, reviewed by county officials, business leaders, and NGOs, highlighted untapped market potential in digital services, artisanal goods, and agriculture, with beekeeping showing strong prospects.
Turkana County, in Kenya's northwest, hosts 288,000 of the country's 770,000 refugees. The predominantly agro-pastoralist local economy has limited opportunities for refugee integration.
James Lokwale, Director of Trade for Turkana County Government, said, "Our expectation is that we will tailor and make activities that will support the provision of business development services to traders in refugee hosting areas of Kakuma and host communities."
The study lays the groundwork for a four-year project led by the International Trade Centre (ITC) to grow small businesses in Turkana.
Funded by the Korean government through KOICA, it's part of the SHIRIKA Plan, which aims to transform refugee camps into integrated settlements.
The project, "Promoting Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Creating Market-Based Livelihood Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities," focuses on developing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Local organizations in Lodwar and Kakuma provided insights from their agricultural experiences during a workshop on June 26, 2024.
These contributions will shape the project's activities beginning in 2024.
The study also noted a growing demand for digital services, aligning with the large, tech-savvy youth population, despite limited digital infrastructure, especially among refugees.
This initiative represents a collaborative effort to address economic challenges in refugee-hosting regions, potentially creating a model for sustainable development in similar contexts.