Food Assistance for Refugees

This operation has been updated as per per budget revision 4.

Kenya hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, and the Government relies on support from the United Nations and the international community. WFP has provided food assistance since 1991.

Some refugees have repatriated in recent years, but political and security situations in most countries of origin remain fragile, and many refugees remain in Kenya. The refugee population is expected to remain stable in the near future, with repatriations to Somalia being offset by arrivals from South Sudan.

Design of this protracted relief and recovery operation was informed by evaluations, assessments, analytical studies, pilot testing and consultations with refugees, host communities, cooperating partners, the Government, United Nations partners and donors. WFP is part of the Kenya Comprehensive Refugee Programme, led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

WFP will assist refugees in camps through general food distributions, complementary feeding for the first 1,000 days after conception, treatment of acute and chronic malnutrition, nutrition support to people living with chronic diseases, institutional feeding, school meals, and food for training for young people. As the camps are located in fragile environments, host communities will receive food assistance-for-asset activities to improve food security and maintain community cohesion, and will have access to some nutrition and training programmes. To mitigate protection risks, WFP will continue consulting beneficiaries and protection workers.

Food assistance will be delivered through food and voucher transfers; pilot testing found that vouchers enhanced dietary diversity, local markets and livelihood opportunities. The biometrics system has improved targeting and controls, bringing substantial cost savings.

The operation is aligned to WFP Strategic Objectives 1 and 2.