Turkana County, Kenya — one of the longest-running settlements globally
426K+
Refugees in Dadaab
Garissa County, Kenya — majority fleeing conflict in Somalia
1 meal/day
Current Reality
Many refugees now receive only one meal per day — far below nutritional minimums
Structural Fragility
Both camps depend almost entirely on international humanitarian aid. When a single major donor withdraws, the entire system destabilizes — with no local fallback and no resilience buffer.
Donor Withdrawal
Acute food shortages triggered by reduction of major donor support
Declining Quality
Food quality and quantity have significantly declined, threatening long-term health
Most Vulnerable
Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are disproportionately affected
Page 2 — UMOJA's Response
Our Strategic Approach
UMOJA's Model
UMOJA provides targeted, low-budget interventions designed to create long-term value alongside humanitarian aid — not to replace it. Every program is scalable, replicable, and locally owned.
2025
Launch Year
Mombasa hub established as operational center
Three Program Pillars
1
Food & Energy Resilience
Biogas systems, small-scale farming, and off-grid energy to reduce external dependency
2
Skills & Livelihoods
Micro-training, certification programs, and refugee-led businesses supported by seed funding and mentorship
3
Narrative & Institutional Strength
Storytelling campaigns and pro bono NGO support to shift perception and build funding readiness
Building local resilience is no longer optional — it is essential.
Page 3 — Programs & Partnerships
From Aid to Action
Five interconnected programs — backed by two anchor partnerships — form the operational backbone of UMOJA's resilience strategy across Kakuma and Dadaab.
Biogas & Farming
Locally operated biogas units and small-scale agriculture reduce fuel and food dependency.
Skills & Micro-Training
Vocational certification programs focused on youth and women to increase economic participation.
Youth & Women Empowerment
Micro-grants, remote mentorship, and business guidance for 5–10 refugee-led enterprises per cycle.
Storytelling Campaign
Dignity-focused content created by refugees to shift global narrative from dependency to capability.
Pro Bono NGO Support
Governance, donor reporting, and funding readiness support for camp-based NGOs.
Anchor Partnerships
Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS)
Off-grid energy for lighting, food storage, and clinics across both camps.
Sustain Switzerland
Training in fish farming, beekeeping, and agribusiness using proven East African models.
Key Message
The Case for Acting Now
Fragile System Exposed
Current humanitarian systems depend on too few donors — a single withdrawal destabilizes everything.
Crisis Is Now
Refugees are already facing reduced meals and acute food insecurity today — not in the future.
Aid Is Not Enough
Short-term emergency support cannot create the long-term stability these communities require.
Build Resilience Now
Sustainable systems must be built immediately — before the next funding shock arrives.
"Building value from within is no longer optional — it is essential."