[{"bbox": [85, 153, 323, 186], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 219, 235, 246], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [95, 265, 1135, 718], "category": "Text", "text": "The number of forcibly displaced communities globally has been increasing over the past decade. As of 2020, more than 1% of the world's population is forcibly displaced: 1 in 95 people. With the Horn of Africa being one of the most affected areas, Kenya has been hosting refugees for over three decades, counting as one of the top ten host countries for refugees. In the early 1990s, refugees originated predominantly from Somalia, due to the geographic and cultural proximity as well as Kenya's role as an economic and transport hub. Numbers of Somali refugees fluctuated, yet significantly increased to almost half a million during the 2011/12 drought, which led to famine-like conditions in Somalia. In the past decade, the number of refugees from other neighbouring states increased as well, notably from South Sudan, DRC and Burundi. Today, according to most recent statistics, at least 540,068 refugees and asylum seekers are registered in Kenya. The distribution is as follows: 288,655 from Somalia, 135,352 from South Sudan, 48,284 from DRC, 30,367 from Ethiopia, 19,153 from Burundi, 9,979 from Sudan and from Uganda 3,086. The exact number is expected to be higher, since registration of new refugees has been halted in Dadaab. Due to the country's encampment policy, a majority of refugees live in the refugee camp complexes of Dadaab (Garissa County/236,254 refugees) and Kakuma-Kalobeyei (Turkana County/219,875 refugees). An additional approximate 83,939 refugees live in urban areas. Both Kakuma and Dadaab are divided into several camps, whereas Kalobeyei, established most recently, was designed as an integrated settlement. Due to the limitations in freedom of movement, delayed registration processes leading to lack of identification and the remoteness of the camps, refugees continue to be almost fully dependent on humanitarian assistance."}, {"bbox": [95, 743, 1135, 1061], "category": "Text", "text": "Responding to the global forced displacement crisis, this Action is aligned with the EU priority to play a leading role in supporting forcibly displaced populations. It also contributes to the realisation of multilateral agreements, such as the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the Global Compact on Migration (GCM). The two compacts were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018 and represent a multilateral approach to finding more equitable solutions to migration and forced displacement. Faced with the reality that three quarters of refugees remain displaced for over 5 years, with a vast majority hosted in developing countries, the GCR recognises that both addressing the root causes, as well as longer-term approaches must be considered. To this end, four objectives were developed: (i) Ease the pressures on host countries; (ii) Enhance refugee self-reliance; (iii) Expand access to third-country solutions; and (iv) Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity. The GCM and GCR are non-legally binding frameworks, yet the EU already implements several initiatives that are in line with the respective objectives and has re-affirmed its commitment to the GCR at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum."}, {"bbox": [95, 1086, 1135, 1380], "category": "Text", "text": "Against this global context, Kenya has not only signed and ratified the key international legal instruments governing the treatment of refugees, but also led the way in several new global and regional initiatives such as the 2017 Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action, the CRRF and the GCR. In the 2010s, Kenya has started exploring models for a development-oriented approach, the primary example of this is Kalobeyei settlement (KISEDP). Kalobeyei is an integrated settlement, where public services are available to refugees and their hosts. The model was designed in several phases lasting until 2030 and covering eight sectors. Phase I is set to conclude in 2022. EU financing has been key in establishing KISEDP in 2016 and helped to attract additional donors. In total, since 2016, the EU has been supporting refugee and host community programmes worth over EUR 50,000,000. In 2019, the County Government hosting Dadaab refugee camp started the development of a similar approach, the 'Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan' (GISEDP). While the political launch has been postponed, the plan has re-focused attention on Dadaab and led to increased coordination among stakeholders."}, {"bbox": [95, 1405, 1135, 1645], "category": "Text", "text": "At the same time, Kenya's domestic policy frameworks with regard to refugees and asylum seekers is among the more restrictive in the region. However as part of its CRRF commitments, Kenya pledged to enhance refugee self-reliance and inclusion, re-evaluate justified citizenship claims and support an inclusive education policy. Until the end of 2021, when the Kenya Refugee Act 2021 was signed into law, national law was enshrined in the Kenya Refugee Act 2006, which supported an encampment policy where refugees are restricted to residing in 'designated areas'. The 2021 legislation includes new provisions, for example, it (i) clearly affirms the rights of refugees to identification, access to services using that identification, and right to work; (ii) includes specific references for national government to coordinate with local governments and county representatives on refugee issues and (iii) provides clear administrative timetables for asylum application processing. In addition, the previously strict"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 24"}]