Advocacy & Capacity Sharing

Shifting Voice into Influence.

Equipping refugee leaders and organizations to shape policy, hold dialogue, and strengthen systems from the inside out.

WHY THIS WORK MATTERS

Proximity as Power

Refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei are closest to the issues yet too often excluded from the rooms where decisions are made. As Kenya rolls out the Shirika Plan, the stakes are high: inclusion must move from rhetoric to practice.

Our role is simple and urgent: to ensure that those who live the reality of displacement are the ones leading the solutions. We transform lived experience into strategic policy influence.

WHAT WE DO

Three Pillars of Influence

Diplomatic Engagement & Policy Advocacy

We advance a Refugee Diplomacy Strategy with partners so refugee perspectives inform national, regional, and global policies. Inclusion must move from rhetoric to practice.

Organizational Development for RLOs

Transitioning grassroots groups into confident, credible, and partnership-ready institutions through intentional capacity-sharing and mentorship.

Inclusive Systems Change

Convening multi-stakeholder dialogues and policy roundtables, aligning county and community priorities so inclusion is embedded in plans and budgets.

CAPACITY SHARING

Strengthening the RLO Ecosystem

We believe that a strong refugee-led ecosystem is the foundation of sustainable change. Our mentorship covers the critical pillars of organizational maturity:

Governance & Strategic Leadership

Establishing transparent oversight and accountable leadership structures.

Financial Management

Implementing robust accounting systems and internal controls to meet donor standards.

Project Cycle Management (PCM)

Equipping teams to design, implement, and scale high-impact interventions.

Resource Mobilization

Training peers in strategic fundraising, donor relations, and sustainability planning.

Integrated MEAL Systems

Building data-driven cultures that prioritize accountability and learning.

PORTFOLIO OF IMPACT

Nothing About Us Without Us

DIPLOMACY

Strengthening Refugee Leadership in Diplomacy

In partnership with Independent Diplomat, we are building a practical diplomacy pathway so refugee leaders can influence policy and drive durable solutions grounded in the Refugee Act (2021) and the Shirika Plan.

EDUCATION

Meaningful Refugee Participation in Education

Collaborating with education stakeholders to empower parents' groups and RLOs to co-shape SEL and ECD practices from the design phase. Supported by Cohere and Porticus.

PARTNERSHIP FOCUS

The Sustainable Model Program

In partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with funding support from DANIDA, we have enhanced SIR’s capacity to deliver impactful interventions through organizational resilience and financial management.

Outcome Areas & Achievements:

Establishment of robust financial management systems
Development of a 5-year Strategic Plan and RM Unit
Increased funding profile and diversification
Implementation of a data-driven MEAL framework

Inclusion from Rhetoric to Practice.

Join us in strengthening the refugee-led ecosystem and shaping policies that reflect lived experience and expertise.

Get Involved Our Partners

SIR

Learn, Earn, Innovate

Solidarity Initiative for Refugees (SIR) is a community-based organization established in 2016 in response to the pressing challenges faced by refugees in Kakuma, Turkana County in Kenya.