The Kenya Analytical Program on Forced Displacement (KAP-FD) is a multi-year initiative aimed at enhancing the global understanding of decision-making processes among refugee and host populations. Funded by PROSPECTS, a partnership for improving prospects for host communities and forcibly displaced persons from the Government of the Netherlands, it is implemented by the World Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA). The program's findings are expected to inform government, humanitarian, and development policies to support better lives, self-reliance, and lasting solutions for refugees, hosts, and their children.
KAP-FD consists of three main components:
The first component is a panel survey. The initial wave was conducted from June 2022 to June 2023, while the second wave began in March 2024. This survey provides multifaceted insights into the lives of refugees and hosts through novel data collection. It targets 6,000 refugee households and 3,500 host community households in Kakuma refugee camp, Kalobeyei settlement, Dadaab refugee camp, as well as urban areas such as Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa. Key dimensions explored include livelihoods; transitions from primary to secondary school; food insecurity; fertility and marriage; women’s empowerment; social norms; psychosocial well-being; migration trajectories; and social cohesion. This panel survey will be complemented by qualitative research and a new psychometric scale designed to assess what helps refugees and host community members deal with challenges.
The second component involves an integrated mental health and livelihoods pilot intervention targeting refugee and host community households in Turkana. Accompanied by a randomized controlled trial to understand its impact on beneficiaries and their households, this intervention focuses on problem-solving skills, financial literacy, mental health support strategies tailored specifically for these communities.
The third component aims to bridge data collection with its application by early-career researchers and practitioners to foster policy-relevant research. A public dashboard will provide governments and the global community access to data related to forced displacement in Kenya. Additionally, capacity building initiatives will be tailored to stakeholder needs including delivering technical assistance towards integrating refugees into national surveys conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).