CENTRE FOR MEDIATION IN AFRICA

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CENTRE FOR MEDIATION IN AFRICA

Prospects: Workplace Mediation

Refugee Workplace Inclusivity in Kenya

This project supports the role of the private sector in advancing refugee workplace inclusivity in Kenya. It brings together employers, civil society organisations, and policy stakeholders to strengthen collaboration around the integration of forcibly displaced persons into Kenya’s formal economy. The initiative recognises employers and employer organisations as critical actors in shaping inclusive labour markets and supporting peaceful, productive workplace environments.

The project forms part of the global International Labour Organization (ILO) PROSPECTS Programme, which seeks to improve access to education, social protection, and decent work for both refugees and host communities. In Kenya, these efforts align with the Shirika Plan, a national policy initiative aimed at enabling refugee inclusion in formal employment while strengthening social cohesion and regulatory alignment.

The project builds on a collaborative partnership between the Centre for Mediation in Africa (CMA) and the International Labour Organization, which included consultations with a wide range of social actors across Kenya. These engagements involved government institutions, refugee-led organisations, and employer associations, and explored the opportunities and challenges surrounding refugee participation in the labour market.

Consultations revealed a key policy paradox: while Kenya has a relatively advanced framework governing labour migration, refugee-related policies remain fragmented. This creates practical barriers for refugees seeking access to formal employment and for employers wishing to hire them within existing legal frameworks. The project therefore focuses on bridging this gap by engaging the private sector as a driver of practical policy solutions.

Employer organisations such as the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and civil society partners including the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) play a central role in the initiative. These organisations help raise awareness among businesses, clarify the provisions of the Shirika Plan, and advocate for reforms that enable responsible and lawful refugee employment. Through these engagements, the project highlights how businesses can support inclusive workforce policies while strengthening workplace stability and preventing potential tensions linked to labour market competition.

International experience shows that well-managed refugee integration can bring significant economic and social benefits, including filling skills shortages, strengthening workforce diversity, and expanding local demand. At the same time, the project recognises that without adequate planning and communication, labour market integration can generate misunderstandings or tensions within workplaces and communities.

To address these dynamics, the initiative focuses on three priority areas. First, it supports efforts to demystify the Shirika Plan and clarify its implications for employers. Second, it equips businesses with knowledge and tools to manage the short- and long-term impacts of refugee inclusion on workplace cohesion. Third, it strengthens workforce planning and operational preparedness within the private sector to ensure that refugee employment contributes positively to organisational and community outcomes.

Through targeted dialogues, consultations, and capacity-building engagements with employers and business associations across sectors, the project seeks to foster inclusive workplace practices and constructive partnerships between the private sector and civil society. By promoting mediation, conflict-sensitive approaches, and practical policy dialogue, the initiative contributes to a more inclusive labour market while supporting social cohesion and economic resilience in Kenya.