€Œit Is like a Breath of Fresh Airâ€� Participants’ Perception of the Impact of Self-Reliance Intervention Among Urban Refugees

Background: The forcibly displaced population is over 100 million, including over 35 million refugees – the largest number ever recorded. Majority of them are facing protracted displacement due to limited access to traditional durable solutions such as repatriation, resettlement, or integration. Humanitarian agencies are overwhelmed and international aid is becoming impossibly thin. In response, humanitarian actors have turned to self-reliance interventions as a sustainable pathway to refugee well-being. RefugePoint, a founding member of the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI), implements a holistic Urban Refugee Protection Program (URPP) in Nairobi, Kenya. The URPP offers stabilization services and livelihood support to urban refugees, aiming to promote self-sufficiency and resilience. This qualitative study explored the perceived impact of the URPP on the economic, social, and emotional well-being of its participants, from their own perspectives.

Methods: Data for this study comes from in-depth interviews (N=23) conducted among URPP participants in the summer of 2023 (June -August). Participants were selected through purposeful sampling from a list of 128 clients participating in the self-reliance program. A total of 28 individuals were selected based on the following criteria: over the age of 18, refugees, head of household, and participated in the program for at least two years. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. A systematic coding approach was used to identify key patterns and themes reflective of participants experiences with the program.

Results: Demographics: participants included three men and 20 women from several African countries. Lived in Nairobi area for nine to over 20 years. Only two families reported having a stable income.

Five key themes emerged from the analysis.

• Economic empowerment through holistic support – participants attributed the program’s multi-layered support (food assistance, rent, business training, and microgrants) for enabling them to meet their basic needs and their small businesses for sustainable livelihoods.
• Capacity building through training and education – in addition to the material support, the financial literacy, parenting, and business planning trainings enhanced participants’ skills and boosted their confidence.
• Emotional and social benefits – a combination mental health counseling, peer support, and increased stability contributed to improved emotional resilience and reduced stress.
• Comparing experiences with non-participants - Participants saw themselves as better equipped to handle economic and psychosocial challenges compared to non-beneficiaries. They also advocated for all refugees to get similar programs.
• Challenges and barriers – participants shared on-going challenges in legal status issues, limited access to healthcare, and political instability in Nairobi remained barriers to sustaining self-reliance.

Conclusion: The URPP’s holistic approach – stabilization support combined with livelihood interventions, it restored a sense of agency, hope, and future orientation. Participants’ reflections suggest that when refugees are met with tailored support that recognizes their dignity and potential, they can re-build their lives and depend less on aid. As global durable displacement sets a record high and durable solutions remain unattainable, expanding and replicating models like URPP offers a promising path to the global refugee crisis.