It is time to rethink refugee response in the Horn of Africa

Congolese refugees line up to receive aid during a food distribution operation at the Musenyi refugee site in Giharo, on May 7, 2025. [AFP]

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.

This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees, which means honouring refugees with words and actions by listening to them and making space for matters that affect them. This includes defending their right to seek safety, finding solutions to their plight, and ending conflicts so they can return home safely.

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, which often excludes refugees from jobs and livelihoods, long used in the Horn of Africa is unsustainable. The refugee problem demands a bold new strategy.

Sustainable refugee management strategies can only be realised through the development approach. Development-focused models build resilience and self-reliance by providing refugees opportunities to work, start businesses, and contribute to local economies.

The Kampala Declaration, issued by member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), emphasises the importance of jobs, livelihoods, and self-reliance for refugees. On this basis, several interventions by IGAD member countries have been initiated.

Kenya's Shirika is one such example. It aims to ensure socioeconomic inclusion of refugees and host communities and 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. If fully leveraged, Uganda's integrated refugee hosting model 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 sub-national levels.

Planning for refugees alongside host communities will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy. Sectors 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 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 programmes ensures that refugees can access employment and business opportunities. Education can produce professionals in various fields, including engineering and healthcare.

Mr Olaka is a Rotary Peace Fellow