Building resilience
with communities
Kalobeyei Umoja Association advances education, sustainable livelihoods, women's empowerment and climate resilience across Kakuma and the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana County, Kenya.
2020
Year founded
4,000+
Trees planted
1
Integrated settlement
Refugee-led
Governance model
A refugee-led organization rooted in the community it serves.
Kalobeyei Umoja Association (KUA) was founded in 2020 by refugees living in the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana West, Kenya — established to close persistent gaps in access to education, meaningful livelihoods and protection for displaced people and their host communities.
As a refugee-led organization, KUA offers deep local knowledge, community trust, multilingual reach and a governance structure that keeps affected people at the centre of decision-making.
At a glance.
What we stand for
A society where refugees and host communities have the skills, opportunities and supportive environment to build stable and meaningful lives.
To equip refugees and host communities with relevant skills, create pathways for sustainable livelihoods, and support community-led approaches to environmental resilience.
Our core values
Six commitments that guide how we work.
Respect
We work alongside governments, agencies and community partners in a spirit of collaboration rather than competition.
Responsibility
We are accountable to the communities we serve and steward every resource entrusted to us with care.
Hard work
Our team commits fully to the outcomes we promise, working across languages and backgrounds to deliver results.
Trust
We build long-term trust with partners, donors and community members through transparency and consistency.
Confidentiality
We safeguard the personal data and stories of the people we serve as a matter of principle and policy.
Teamwork
We operate as one team that draws strength from the diversity of its members and the communities we represent.
Five priorities driving our
2025–2030 agenda.
Expand equitable access to education
Open pathways to digital literacy, scholarships and higher education for refugee and host-community youth.
Promote sustainable livelihoods
Support enterprise creation, business skills and market linkages that generate durable household income.
Strengthen economic inclusion
Improve access to financial services, employment readiness and inclusive market systems.
Advance climate resilience
Scale reforestation, water solutions and climate-smart agriculture in Turkana's arid landscape.
Empower women and youth
Prevent gender-based violence and expand leadership, protection and economic opportunities for women and young people.
2025–2030
Strategic plan period
Four integrated pillars of work.
Community-designed programs connecting skills, income, protection and environmental resilience.
Education & Skills Development
Opening digital and academic pathways for young refugees and host-community learners.
Where we work.
KUA operates in Turkana West Sub-County — home to one of the world's largest and most protracted refugee-hosting settings.
Kakuma Refugee Camp
Since 1992Established in 1992, hosting refugees from across the East and Horn of Africa.
Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement
Since 2016An integrated settlement model launched in 2016 to promote self-reliance and shared services with the host community.
Turkana Host Villages
Turkana WestNeighbouring Turkana communities in Turkana West Sub-County, North-western Kenya, bordering South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Kalobeyei settlement
Turkana County, Kenya
Who we serve
A theory of change
grounded in the community.
Community needs
Listen first — needs assessments led by affected people.
Capacity building
Skills, knowledge and confidence to act on those needs.
Economic empowerment
Income and enterprise pathways for households.
Community resilience
Stronger social, protective and environmental systems.
Sustainable development
Durable, community-owned outcomes over the long term.
Safeguarding & Protection
KUA upholds international safeguarding standards across all programs, partners and community engagements.
Working better, together.
KUA collaborates with a growing ecosystem of partners committed to refugee-inclusive development.
UN Agencies
Working alongside UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and other UN partners on protection and self-reliance.
INGOs & NGOs
Delivering joint programming with international and national NGOs active in Kakuma and Kalobeyei.
Government
Coordinating with the Government of Kenya, RAS/DRS and Turkana County Government.
Academic institutions
Partnering with universities and training providers on scholarships and research.
Private sector
Engaging employers, digital platforms and market actors on inclusive livelihoods.
Foundations & donors
Welcoming foundations and institutional donors aligned with refugee-led development.
Why partner with us
Nine reasons partners choose KUA.
Stay connected with KUA.
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