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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network/2013/jun/17/world-refugee-day-refugee-camps
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| World Refugee Day: is it time to invest in refugee camps? | World Refugee Day: is it time to invest in refugee camps? |
| (2 days later) | |
| Some 15 million people live in refugee camps around the world, according to the latest UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates. Though traditionally built by governments or international organisations to provide temporary shelter for displaced people, some camps become homes for refugees for decades or more. | Some 15 million people live in refugee camps around the world, according to the latest UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates. Though traditionally built by governments or international organisations to provide temporary shelter for displaced people, some camps become homes for refugees for decades or more. |
| Limited resources, and the makeshift nature of many camps have meant that their priorities have often been limited to meeting emergency hygiene and healthcare needs of refugees. | Limited resources, and the makeshift nature of many camps have meant that their priorities have often been limited to meeting emergency hygiene and healthcare needs of refugees. |
| Increased funding and emerging medical, shelter and communication centred innovations have improved the quality and efficiency of emergency provisions in recent years. | Increased funding and emerging medical, shelter and communication centred innovations have improved the quality and efficiency of emergency provisions in recent years. |
| But with camps now accommodating two or more generations of refugees, shouldn't services evolve beyond emergency interventions? In a blog for the Network, director of Oxford University's Humanitarian Innovation Project Alex Betts explains that innovation is about adapting to context, and providing ways to "move beyond encampment through creating livelihood opportunities and self-sufficiency." | But with camps now accommodating two or more generations of refugees, shouldn't services evolve beyond emergency interventions? In a blog for the Network, director of Oxford University's Humanitarian Innovation Project Alex Betts explains that innovation is about adapting to context, and providing ways to "move beyond encampment through creating livelihood opportunities and self-sufficiency." |
| Some programmes are already succeeding to meet refugees longer term social and educational needs. The 'Borderless Higher Education for Refugees' programme has set up the world's first camp-based university in the Dadaab camp in Kenya, where over 500,000 fled to escape conflict in Somalia. "It really is an idea whose time has come," said Wenona Giles, co-leader of BHER. "We can't have huge numbers of people not having access to higher education." | Some programmes are already succeeding to meet refugees longer term social and educational needs. The 'Borderless Higher Education for Refugees' programme has set up the world's first camp-based university in the Dadaab camp in Kenya, where over 500,000 fled to escape conflict in Somalia. "It really is an idea whose time has come," said Wenona Giles, co-leader of BHER. "We can't have huge numbers of people not having access to higher education." |
| Enterprising refugees like electricity supplier Mohammed Ahmed Bashir, a Somali living in the Hagadera camp in Kenya, are setting up businesses within camps to serve inhabitants' needs. "We might lack a stable government back home, but we do not lack entrepreneurial minds," Bashir told Sabahi online. | Enterprising refugees like electricity supplier Mohammed Ahmed Bashir, a Somali living in the Hagadera camp in Kenya, are setting up businesses within camps to serve inhabitants' needs. "We might lack a stable government back home, but we do not lack entrepreneurial minds," Bashir told Sabahi online. |
| So how can NGOs, donors and governments recognise and nurture the potential for innovation in refugee camps? How does the way camps are designed, funded and serviced help or hinder innovation? Contentiously, what would you say to the argument that investing in camps only entrenches them? Join us on Thursday, 20 June, from 1-3pm to discuss these questions and more. | So how can NGOs, donors and governments recognise and nurture the potential for innovation in refugee camps? How does the way camps are designed, funded and serviced help or hinder innovation? Contentiously, what would you say to the argument that investing in camps only entrenches them? Join us on Thursday, 20 June, from 1-3pm to discuss these questions and more. |
| The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To join the panel or simply give your views ahead of the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive | The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). To join the panel or simply give your views ahead of the chat, email globaldevpros@guardian.co.uk. Follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive |
| Panel | |
| Emily Arnold-Fernandez, executive director, Asylum Access, California, USA | |
| Emily is a social entrepreneur, human rights pioneer and lawyer. She first became involved in refugee rights in 2002, when she represented refugees in United Nations proceedings in Cairo, Egypt. | |
| Christine Tominke Olaniyan, director, Padeap, London, UK | |
| Christine works with and for refugees in Uganda, offering training and support from community resource centres based in Kampala and the Oruchinga refugee settlement in Western Uganda. | |
| Vincent Kienzler, co-founder and director, Green Bio Energy, Kampala, Uganda | |
| Vincent works to help design, produce and distribute eco-friendly energy solutions adapted to developing countries. His business is working with the urban poor in Uganda, and is exploring how to involve refugees in its work. | |
| Jacqueline Strecker, ICT innovations in education specialist, UNHCR, Switzerland, Geneva. @LearnLabUNHCR | |
| Jacqueline has broad experience working with governments, universities, NGOs, and UN agencies advising, implementing, and evaluating the use of ICTs in broadening educational opportunities for refugees. | |
| Ben Rawlence, writer, Open Society Foundation, London, UK. @BenRawlence | |
| Ben researches the lives of Somali refugees in Kenya. Previously he led the research of Human Rights Watch for the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia with reports on refugees in the Dadaab camp and IDPs in Mogadishu. | |
| Jessie Thomson, director, humanitarian affairs and emergency team, Care International, Ottawa, Canada. @jessiecthomson | |
| Jessie formerly lead the development of Canadian policy related to UNHCR, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). She also worked as a protection delegate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Pakistan. | |
| More to follow |