Bridging Divides: EldoHub's Digital Pathways for Refugees and Marginalized Communities on World Refugee Day 2026

Eldoret, Kenya – On World Refugee Day 2026, EldoHub reaffirms its commitment to fostering inclusion and opportunity for forcibly displaced and marginalized communities. As digital literacy becomes essential for integration, EldoHub leads efforts to turn potential into economic empowerment through digital skills and innovation.

The Power of Digital Inclusion: EldoHub's Vision

Africa's tech potential is immense, but as EldoHub's leadership notes, "potential does not create jobs. Infrastructure does." We focus on building physical, digital, and educational systems that enable marginalized innovators, including refugees and host communities, to succeed in the digital economy. This World Refugee Day, we highlight how our programs equip refugee youth with ICT skills for online employment and self-reliance.

Empowering Through Digital Skills: Our Impact

EldoHub's initiatives create decent digital economy jobs for those often left behind. The ILO Innovation Challenge accelerated nine non-profits in Turkana and Garissa, resulting in 1,830 inclusive digital jobs for refugees and host communities. This reflects our commitment to policies and practices that prioritize human dignity in refugee support.

EmpowerU Women Safe Digital Job Center: A Beacon of Hope

The EmpowerU Women Safe Digital Job Center demonstrates our targeted approach. This program provides safe spaces and digital skills training for women from refugee and host communities. Through initiatives like RYEH Digital Skills Training, participants gain expertise in areas such as social media marketing and truck dispatch coordination. Ubah Mohamed Abdi, a 20-year-old from Hagadera Refugee Camp, exemplifies this transformation:

"Before the training, I barely knew what digital work meant. Now, I help others grow their businesses online. I feel proud to call myself a digital girl."

Ubah's journey from curiosity to confidence shows how digital skills offer both income and a renewed sense of purpose. The program has benefited 163 male and 186 female refugees, 224 male and 339 female host community members, and 33 Persons with Disabilities through various digital job centers and platforms.

NikoBiz: Activating Skills, Creating Pathways

Our NikoBiz program, supported by the UK Kenya Tech Hub, has helped over 1,200 youth and Persons with Disabilities turn their skills in the gig economy, agribusiness, small business, and the creative economy into sustainable businesses. Implemented across five counties, NikoBiz moves participants from ideas to implementation, fostering sustainable livelihoods. Success stories, including building professional portfolios and developing business ideas, result from structured support, market linkages through SokoPlug, and financing pathways via JengaBiz.

Jamii Biashara: Digital Market Access at the Grassroots

The Jamii Biashara Portal is a key part of our strategy, empowering grassroots entrepreneurs like Sylvia, a cereals and fruits vendor in Lodwar. Previously, Sylvia struggled to reach clients. Now, clients place orders online, resulting in significant sales growth and new jobs, including a delivery rider and an assistant. As Sylvia testifies:

"The Jamii Biashara Portal has been a game-changer for me. It has connected me with customers I couldn’t easily reach before, increased referrals for new clients, and my sales have grown significantly."

Similarly, Duncan Ogonyo, a small-scale vendor, expanded his reach across Lodwar through Jamii Biashara, turning his business into a success. Justus, a music producer, gained new clients and collaboration opportunities, turning his creative passion into profit. These stories show how digitalization for displaced people and host communities drives economic resilience.

EldoHub's Broader Commitment to Inclusive Ecosystems

EldoHub is committed to building comprehensive, inclusive ecosystems. Our Inclusive TechRun engaged 285 Persons with Disabilities across various categories, demonstrating that the digital economy must serve everyone. TechLabs Mashinani deployed solar-powered mobile innovation labs to 12 rural institutions, providing over 1,000 remote learners with hands-on experience in coding, AI, and robotics. These initiatives ensure digital opportunities are accessible in underserved communities.

The Road Ahead: Pan-African Scaling and Continued Impact

Looking ahead, EldoHub is expanding the SasaKazi platform internationally, launching drone pilot and robotics licensing programs, and increasing AI integration for small-scale enterprises. We seek funding partners and policymakers who share our vision of building effective systems to ensure the digital economy benefits everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

On World Refugee Day 2026, EldoHub celebrates the resilience and potential of refugees and marginalized communities. We invite you to join us in building an inclusive digital future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.