As Kenya advances the implementation of the Refugee Act, 2021 and the Shirika Plan, the country is steadily redefining how refugees are governed, supported, and integrated into society. Counties—now recognized as frontline actors in refugee response—are carrying growing responsibility for service delivery, social cohesion, and local development in refugee-hosting areas.

Against this backdrop, the Kenya School of Government, in partnership with VNG International, and The Hague Academy for Local Governance, developed a Refugee Management Curriculum with a view to professionalizing Kenya’s response to the country’s protracted refugee situation. This Curriculum was validated at KSG on 16 December 2025. The Validation Workshop, brought together key stakeholders from across the refugee management ecosystem.

Through a participatory and evidence-driven process, national and county stakeholders helped shape a learning programme that is grounded in devolution, responsive to integrated settlement models, and aligned with the Shirika Plan’s vision of inclusion and self-reliance. Continuous feedback from practitioners, technical working groups, and pilot trainings ensured the curriculum remained practical, relevant, and adaptable.

The validation workshop was more than a technical review—it was a moment of collective ownership. Stakeholders affirmed the curriculum as a timely and strategic response to Kenya’s shifting refugee landscape, and a critical investment in building capable institutions at both national and county levels.