Our participatory forums happening in three rounds in each city, from February to June are local-level gatherings designed for shared analysis, agenda-setting, and validating research with displaced and host communities.
They are bringing together municipal authorities, community leaders, civil society, and returnees to:
Co-design city-level priorities and projects for reintegration.
Strengthen coordination between local governments and communities.
Identify livelihood opportunities across green, blue, and purple economies (environment, coastal, and care sectors).
Build inclusive dialogues on governance, socio-economic resilience, protection, and equality.
Read why participatory planning matters with displaced and host communities here.Scroll through some key insights below.
The third round of Participatory Forums will focus on refining proposed solutions into concrete, locally owned project concepts, with clear commitments, roles, and pathways for implementation.
PF3: Kakuma, Kenya
June 2026
Community participation: In Kakuma, our partner Youth Voices Community (YVC) convened 52 participants for the second Participatory Forum, bringing together refugee-led organisations, community groups, government actors, private sector representatives, and development partners. Building on PF1, the forum created space for participants to move beyond identifying challenges and work in thematic groups to explore what practical solutions could look like across education and livelihoods, mobility and infrastructure, and basic services and living conditions.
Participant dialogue: Discussions centred on three proposed pilot initiatives: Documentation and Multilingual Advocacy, Career Clinic and Youth Livelihoods, and the Makao Bora Spatial Planning Initiative. Participants highlighted the importance of improving access to documentation and public services through stronger communication, community outreach, and closer collaboration between service providers and communities. Discussions on youth livelihoods focused on helping young people transition from education into employment by strengthening career guidance, skills development, and connections to labour market opportunities. Conversations around Makao Bora emphasised the need for more inclusive and participatory approaches to spatial planning, recognising that growing populations are placing increasing pressure on land, housing, and local infrastructure. Across all groups, participants moved beyond problem identification and worked towards defining concrete actions, roles, and partnerships needed for implementation.
Governance gaps and lessons for future forums: Discussions highlighted the importance of trust, coordination, and accountability in translating ideas into action. Participants identified ongoing tensions around documentation, access to services, and land allocation, but also demonstrated a strong willingness to collaborate across institutions and communities. Commitments from Kakuma Municipality, the Department of Refugee Services, and the National Police Service to support pilot activities reflected growing ownership of the process. The forum also revealed the value of bringing diverse stakeholders together in thematic groups, creating space for constructive dialogue even where perspectives differed. Reflections for future forums emphasised the need for stronger follow-up mechanisms, formalised partnerships, continued community engagement, and clear pathways for turning pilot concepts into implementable projects.
PF3: Ethiopia
June 2026
Community participation: In Dessie, Ethiopia, our partner convened the third Participatory Forum under LLEARN, bringing together government representatives, NGOs, INGOs, community leaders, religious leaders, internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, and host community members. Building on PF1 and PF2, the forum focused on refining and finalising community-led project concepts, ensuring that the priorities identified throughout the participatory process were translated into practical proposals for action.
Participant dialogue: Participants worked in three groups to further develop concept notes around Food Security and Safe Shelter, Sustainable Livelihoods and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and Access to Documentation. Discussions explored the interconnections between economic recovery, wellbeing, protection, and access to services, while identifying practical interventions that could respond to the realities faced by displaced and host communities. Through the exchange of diverse perspectives and experiences, participants refined project ideas, identified implementation opportunities, and strengthened the relevance of proposed solutions to local needs.
Governance gaps and lessons for future forums: Discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining inclusive planning processes that bring together communities, local authorities, and service providers around shared priorities. Participants emphasised that sustainable solutions require stronger coordination across sectors and continued engagement with affected communities throughout implementation. The forum also demonstrated the value of participatory decision-making, culminating in a voting process through which participants collectively selected and prioritised one project concept for future implementation. Reflections from the forum reinforced the importance of community ownership, transparent decision-making, and ensuring that local voices continue to shape reintegration and development efforts moving forward.
