Ethiopia’s new integration initiative highlights a wider change in perspective, acknowledging the inherent value and capabilities of refugees as beneficial contributors to society.
In 2017, South Sudanese men at a Gambella, Ethiopia, camp observed World Refugee Day, underscoring how Ethiopia’s new “inclusion” initiative aims to fully incorporate such refugees into the country’s mainstream.
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, accommodates one of the continent’s largest refugee populations, currently numbering 1.1 million and continuing to expand. Despite contending with internal political and ethnic strife, along with climate-related challenges, the nation is striving to formalize and incorporate these numerous regional migrants into its societal fabric.
The government recently introduced Makatet, an Amharic term meaning “inclusion.” This five-year strategy is designed to fully integrate refugees into the country’s education and healthcare frameworks, empowering them to seek employment and achieve financial self-sufficiency.
On a wider scale, Makatet signifies a notable transformation in both viewpoint and approach throughout the region. Rather than labeling displaced individuals as victims or enduring economic burdens, governments and aid organizations are progressively recognizing them as potential advantages for society and their host nations.
This progressive viewpoint is clearly articulated by Barham Salih, who escaped violence in his home country of Iraq during his teenage years and currently serves as the United Nations high commissioner for refugees.
“Behind every statistic is a life, a person with aspiration, with a right to dignity, with the right to a better future,” Mr. Salih stated to UN News in March. He has also remarked, “As a former refugee, I know first-hand how protection and opportunity can change the course of a life.”
Kenya’s government also aims to merge established safeguards with new prospects. Its Shirika program, initiated in March 2025, endeavors to convert long-standing refugee camps into settlements that benefit both local residents and refugees.
Across various parts of Africa, a growing number of smaller initiatives are acknowledging the valid concerns and personal autonomy of all individuals residing in areas impacted by migration, thereby fostering a foundation for acceptance and collaboration. For instance, a pilot project in Mozambique, which provided training to refugees alongside local inhabitants, led to a 66% rise in household incomes and a 600% increase in monthly savings. Furthermore, an assessment indicated that it rendered hosts “more trusting [and] more likely to have refugee friends,” in addition to being “more willing to share scarce resources such as jobs and government support with foreigners.”
Elsewhere, refugees are actively reciprocating the generosity of their host communities, exemplified by Malians who sought refuge in neighboring Mauritania. In that country, a contingent of 200 Malian refugees operates a volunteer fire brigade, employing traditional techniques to extinguish dangerous bushfires that endanger both livestock and livelihoods.
“There is this amazing generosity of the host community. These people share with us everything they have,” a Malian individual informed The Associated Press. “We needed to do something to lessen the burden,” they added.
For millions of refugees throughout Africa, assimilation into the everyday routines and customs of their host nations seems to be an increasingly challenging endeavor. The collaborative Ethiopia-U.N. 2026 refugee initiative has only secured 24% of its required funding to date. Both European nations and the United States have imposed stringent restrictions on refugee admissions and asylum applications, while also significantly reducing humanitarian aid.
“This is not the moment to look away,” Mr. Salih conveyed to The Guardian recently. He emphasized that Africa’s initiatives to integrate refugees “must not be about shifting responsibility” away from the broader international community. Instead, he asserted, “This has to be about sharing responsibility.”
Ultimately, as this former refugee has underscored, “Being a refugee is … meant to be a temporary condition” – not a permanent state.
