Kingdom of The Netherlands will continue supporting refugees in Kenya, the kingdom’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya Jaco Beerends announced during a courtesy visit to the Turkana County Deputy Governor John Erus.

Ambassador Beerends who was accompanied by representatives of International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, UNHCR and the World Bank – five partners implementing projects funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in climate change, humanitarian services, natural resources governance, inclusive financing and systems strengthening under the PROSPECTS partnership, said humanitarian support is at the centre of Dutch foreign diplomacy.

Dr Erus used the meeting to call for a change of approach in the implementation of refugee-host collaboration, saying current strategies for host-refugee integration risk failure unless county and private sector-led solutions are empowered to take the lead.

He cited the IFC-led Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF), enterprise de-risking services by Equity Bank and similar business financing models by Inkomoko as programmes that have had a major impact on the lives and livelihoods of both host and refugee communities.

“In addition to the projects already showing great promise, the PROSPECTS partnership should also consider investing in Tarach Dam and tapping the Napuu aquifer to provide a lasting solution to water access challenge in Turkana,” Dr Erus said.

The envoy said the Kingdom of the Netherlands was planning to further extend support to implementing partners, noting that the county had demonstrated a clear understanding of its goals and how to achieve them.

The meeting also featured presentations from players in key sectors including water, education, social protection and prosopis plant management and vocational training.

Also, present were Deputy County Secretary for Administration Joseph Nyanga, CECM for Water Services Willyjustus Elim, Chief Officer for Vocational Training Robert Loyelei, Chief Officer for Partnerships Jane Rose Tioko, Director for Vocational Training Stephen Eregae, IFC/World Bank representative and officials from National government State departments.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Peter Gitonga