This week, UNHCR Dadaab hosted a diverse private sector delegation in Dadaab, bringing together representatives from financial institutions, higher education institutions, private foundations, and leaders from the aviation industry. The visit provided an important opportunity to explore shared value partnerships that can support sustainable economic inclusion for refugees and host communities, while aligning with Kenya’s national development priorities. The engagements were guided by the SHIRIKA Plan, Kenya’s transformative framework that seeks to transition refugee camps from reliance on humanitarian assistance into self‑sustaining economic ecosystems, integrated within county and national economies. Conversations were also anchored in the Garissa Integrated Socio‑Economic Development Plan (GISEDP) and the evolving strategic direction of the Dadaab Municipality, ensuring coherence between refugee response, local development planning, and private sector engagement. A key component of the visit involved field‑based site visits and direct engagement with refugees. Delegates met refugee entrepreneurs, students, artisans, and community leaders to better understand lived experiences, aspirations, and the practical constraints faced in accessing finance, education, skills development, and markets. These exchanges were critical in grounding investment discussions in real-world opportunities and challenges, and in highlighting the resilience, talent, and entrepreneurial potential that already exists within Dadaab. Through these interactions, the delegation gained insight into the breadth of opportunities across sectors such as financial inclusion, higher education pathways, skills and workforce mobility, logistics and aviation connectivity, renewable energy, and local enterprise development. Importantly, the discussions demonstrated how refugee and host community inclusion is not only a social imperative, but also an economic opportunity that can deliver measurable returns when supported by the right policies and partnerships. Private sector investment remains a crucial accelerator for advancing this agenda. In close collaboration with the Government of Kenya, county authorities, development partners, and humanitarian actors, we are working to strengthen the enabling environment required for responsible investment, innovation, and long‑term sustainability. Dadaab continues to evolve from a site of protection to a platform for investment, partnership, and inclusive growth, where refugees are not just beneficiaries, but active contributors to local and national development. #SHIRIKA #GISEDP #PrivateSectorEngagement #SharedValue #RefugeeInclusion #EconomicInclusion #Dadaab #InvestmentForImpact #RefugeeVoices #Kenya
