SummaryofSelectedPointsDiscussedatMeetingsoftheSteeringCommittee

Oxford/Nairobi,#$October#,-.

MadelineGarlick,ElspethGuild,MachielSalomons

FORMATIVEEVALUATIONOFRSDTRANSITIONPROCESSIN

KENYA

FORMATIVEEVALUATIONOFRSDTRANSITIONPROCESSINKENYASUMMARYOFSELECTEDPOINTSDISCUSSEDATMEETINGOFTHEEUROPE-BASED

STEERINGCOMMITTEEMEMBERS,OXFORD,27OCTOBER2014

Introduction:theFormativeEvaluationandSteeringCommittee

1. A formative evaluation of the ongoing transition to a national Refugee StatusDetermination (RSD) procedure in Kenya, led by UNHCR’s Policy Development andEvaluationService(PDES)commencedon1October2014,tocontinueuntil31January2015.ASteeringCommittee(SC)comprisingexpertsfromEuropeandAfricahasbeenset up to advice the evaluation team and monitor the process of the formativeevaluation.At the firstmeeting of European-basedmembers of the SC, on27October2014,participantsheardpresentations from the evaluation teamand fromvarious SCmembersanddiscussedanumberofkeyquestionsandpriorities fortheevaluation.Adiscussionpaper,attached,wasusedasbasisfordiscussions.Thekeyconclusionsofthemeetingarereflectedbelow.AsecondmeetingofAfrica-basedSCmembersisscheduledtotakeplaceon29November2014inNairobi.Subjecttoavailabilityoffunds,hopewasexpressedthattheentireSCwouldhaveanopportunitytomeetin2015.

2. At a global level, UNHCR has seen a significant increase inmandate RSD applicationsoverrecentyears,whichmakestransitionstowell-functioningnationalRSDsystemsallthemorerelevantandnecessary.Theneedforfurtherguidance,clarityandconsistencyin approaches to transition has been underlined in PDES’ March 2014 evaluation,‘Providing for Protection’. In addition to Kenya, transition processes are underway atdifferent stages in other countries including Cameroon, China (Hong Kong), Israel,Morocco,andTurkey.Inthiscontext,asasecondphaseofUNHCR’sworkonthiscriticalissue, the SCmembers agreed that the Kenya transition process provided an optimalchoice for this formativeevaluation, in termsof timingandsubstantive issues.Fromacountry specific point of view, Kenya illustrates and provides insight into relevantcharacteristics in the RSD transition process which could potentially be of widerrelevance.

Contextandobjectives

3. The shared objective of governments and UNHCR should be to achieve RSD systemswhich are not only fair and efficient, but also sustainable in the long run as part ofnational legal and governance systems. Participants agreed that the success oftransitionprocessesdependstoalargeextentonthepoliticalsupportofgovernments,as well as willingness to ensure protection to those who need it, commitment tohumanitarian objectives, close cooperation between all concerned and adequateresourcing.

4. The context in which transition is taking place in Kenya involvesmany complex andchallenging factors (including human and financial resources, serious securitychallenges in the country, prevailing policies regarding urban refugees, theasylum/migration debate, a significant backlog and other protection related issues).Whiletheevaluationwillneedtotakeallthesefactorsintoconsideration,itmustfocusonprovidingconcreteandpracticalobservationsandrecommendationstofacilitatethe

process of handover of RSD, enabling the Kenyan authorities to assume fullresponsibility for a fair, well-functioning, and sustainable RSD process, as part of astrongprotectionsysteminKenya.Thisshouldincludeanindependentappealsprocess.

Scopeoftheevaluation

5. As UNHCR guidance on several important subjects (including prima facie status;approachestoRSD)isintheprocessofupdating/preparation,thereremainsnospecific,generally applicable guidance onwhen and how to effect transition or handover. Theformativeevaluation,totheextentpossible,shouldendeavortoidentifyelementswhichcouldformpartofsuchguidance.FurthertotheMarch2014phaseIreport,thiswouldincludesuchtopicsasassessing,planningandpreparationfortransition,bestpracticesin support of national authorities, protection risk management strategies andalternativeapproachestoindividualRSD.AkeyissueforUNHCRoperationsworldwideistheavailabilityofadequatestaffingresourcestoproperlyprepare,supportandassistwiththeconsolidationofnationalRSD.Asitsmajorfocusandsourceofinformationwillbe the Kenya operation, however, the current evaluation’s recommendations willspecificallyseektoaddresstheKenyacontext.

RSDproceduresandregistration

6. Therearecurrentlyanumberofdifferentprocedures,anddifferentiatedstreamswithinprocedures,inuseduringthetransitionalprocess.Itwillbeimportanttoexaminetheseandconsiderhow toensure that thesecan (a)enhanceprotection (b)ensureefficientcase management and processing with limited delays for asylum-seekers; and (c) besustainable inthe longerterm, includingafterhandover.Thesemusttake intoaccounttherelevantpartsoftheinternationalandKenyanlegalframework,includingthe1951ConventionandtheOAUConvention,aswellastherelevantKenyanlegislation.ItwillbeofcrucialimportancetoensurethattheRSDprocess,duringandafterhandover,isfullyembeddedinKenyanlegislativeandlegalstructuresandinstitutions. Thisisessential,notonlytoensureafirmlegalbasisforongoingRSDprocessesandoutcomes,butalsoto guarantee their sustainability in the longer term. The commitment of the Kenyanauthorities to maintain and uphold the RSD process in accordance with Kenyan andinternationallawcouldbereflectedinamemorandumofunderstandingwhichcouldbeconcludedattheconclusionorduringthetransitionprocess.

7. Registrationisakeystep,inallofthedifferentlocationsandmodalitiesinwhichittakesplace.Recommendationsshouldfocusonensuringthereiseffectiveandon-goingaccesstoregistration forall thoseseekingprotection,and that theessentialdata isgathered,ideallyonetimeonly,toenableprovisionsofservicesandaccesstoafairandefficientRSD process. Confidentiality of personal and RSD-related information is also critical(both for data currently in the system and to be gathered in future during and aftertransition). Safeguardsmust be in place to ensure its protection on an ongoing basis.Giventheresource-intensivenatureofregistration,efficiencyisalsoacrucialaspect.

8. Thebacklogofpendingclaimsrepresentsamajorchallenge.Waysshouldbesoughttoreduceandpotentiallyeliminatethisbeforehandoveriscompleted,toenablethepost-handoverprocesstorespondtonewclaimsinaswiftmanner.TheSteeringCommitteealsonoted in this regard the recentpositiveprogress in reductionof thebacklog as aresult of the government’s decision to provide refugee protection on a prima facie,groupbasistoapplicantsfromSouthSudan.

9. In addition to adequate resource allocations to national RSD procedures and efficient

case processing techniques, it was therefore important for the evaluation to pay fullattention to RSD and asylum policies. The Steering Committee moreover felt thatindividualRSDprocedures,incaseofapositiveoutcome,shouldresultinastatuswhichconfers clear added value in terms of rights and benefits as foreseen under theinternationalrefugeeinstruments.

Capacity-building

10. Buildingof the institutional capacityof theDRA isanessentialpartof the transitionalprocess.Asignificantinvestmentinpost-recruitment,toattractstaffwiththerequiredprofileandbackgroundaswellason-goingtrainingofstaffwillbeneeded,duringandafter the transition. Steps need to be taken to ensure continuity and retention ofperforming trainedstaff,whichhasbeenproblematic inothersituations.Managementcapacity is also crucial, and should be developed and supported to ensure successfulongoingoperationoftheRSDsystem.

Supportingthequalityoftheprocessanditsoutcome

11. BenchmarksandtoolsforhandoverofdifferentaspectsofanefficientRSDprocessmaybehelpful,toencourageandtomeasureprogressduringtheon-goingtransitionphase.Thesecouldalsobeadaptedtoprovideausefulbasisforsubsequentqualityassuranceactivities for the RSD process in the longer term. Indicators measuring substantiveoutcomesinprocedurescouldformanintegralpartofthisendeavor.WhilstreviewingtheRSDprocess,attentionisrequiredtotheproceduresusedtoassesstheapplicabilityofexclusionclauses.

RolesofUNHCRandotheractors

12. TheongoingcapacitatingandsupervisoryroleofUNHCRshouldbeconsideredaspartoftheevaluationprocess,includingpotentiallyasanactiveobserverinthenationalRSDadjudicationprocessonce theauthoritieshaveassumed full responsibility.Theroleofmonitoringwillbeimportant.Theseissuesarerelevantforthepurposeofpreparatoryworkduringthetransition,andfordefiningongoingrolesandactivitiesthereafter.

13. The place and contribution of other actors, including notably civil society/NGO, legalcounsellorsand legalaidschemes,shouldbeconsidered, inordertomakeuseof theirskills and knowledge in support of RSD and to nurture the protection system morebroadly.

Solutions

14. Solutionsareacrucialpartoftheprotectionframeworkforrefugeesinallcountriesandcontexts.Ways tostrengthen theprospects fordurablesolutions forrefugees, inwayswhichrespectlegalnormsandensurethewiderpublicinterest,shouldbeanimportantpartoftheanalysis.AdistinctanalysisshouldbemadeontherelationshipbetweenRSDand voluntary repatriation, RSD and resettlement and RSD and local integrationwithspecialreferencetolong-termintegrationprospects.

Timeframes

15. Realistic timeframes for the transition process, which also provide incentives andmomentum for progress, will be essential. Currently-envisaged timeframes will bereviewedinconnectionwiththequestionoftheformandcontentofaMemorandumofUnderstanding or exchange of letters relating to the handover and other relevantaspects. A clear strategy for phasing down and ,where relevant, concludingUNHCRinvolvementinanyaspectoftheformalprocessshouldbedefined.

31October2014

KenyaRefugeeStatusDetermination(RSD)EvaluationProject:

MinutesofMeeting29November2014,NairobiKenya

Present:Evaluationteam:MachielSalomons,MadelineGarlickandElspethGuild

Steering Committee members: Professor Bonaventure Rutinwa, Solomon Wasia Masitsa(advocate)ProfessorGilbertKhadiagala,AnnEncontre,DeputyDirectorAfricaBureauandCatherineHamon Sharpe, Assistant Representative (Protection) UNHCR Kenya; Geoffrey Wafula, Head ofProtection,DepartmentofRefugeeAffairs,Kenya.

Guest:RichardGrindel(UNHCRRSDOfficer).

Attached at Annex 1 please find the agenda of themeeting. Thismeetingwas held according toChathamHouserules.Thisnoteprovidesonlyageneraloverviewofeachpresentationandcannotbecitedorquotedasrepresentativeofthespeaker’svieworcontributionevenlesssoregardingthespeaker’sinstitution.

WelcomebyProfessorElspethGuild(memberoftheevaluationteam)

Presentation: Machiel Salomons, Principal Policy and Evaluation Officer UNHCR and MadelineGarlick,FellowMigrationPolicyInstitute–descriptionoftheprojectanditsobjectives.

Theteampresentedthehistoryoftheprojectandwhattheintendedoutputsare.In2013UNHCR’sPolicyDevelopmentandEvaluationService(PDES)wasaskedforaformativeevaluationofUNHCR’sinvolvement in RSD. This resulted in a report in 2014.1 There aremanyways in which UNHCR isinvolvedinRSD.WhetheraspecificevaluationaboutthequestionoftransferofRSDfromUNHCRtothegovernmentmayberequiredineachsituationisanaspectofcarefulindividualreview.UNHCRpolicyexplicitlystatesthatstateconductofRSDisadesirablepolicyobjective.However,thereareno benchmarks. Kenya is unique because evenwithout clear instructions, the relationship of theDRA,UNHCRandcivil societyactorsprovidesanadhoc frameworkwhichpermitssucha transfer.PerhapstheKenyamodelcouldprovideguidancetoUNHCRasitpursuesitspolicytotransitionRSDtonationalgovernments.Aninformationcollectionprocessisgoingonaspartofthepresentprojectwhereby enumerators are interviewing asylum seekers to findoutwhat those in theRSDprocessthink of the current procedures. The objective of today’s meeting is to receive the input of thesteeringcommittee.

1UNHCR,ProvidingforProtection,AssistingStateswiththeassumptionofresponsibilityforrefugeestatusdetermination,Apreliminaryreview(PDES/2014/01),http://www.unhcr.org/53314b7a9.html

Today’s meeting is not intended to deal with technical issues but to hear about the issues ofprinciple and context of RSD in Kenya and Africa generally. There has already been an extensiveinformationgatheringexercisecarriedoutbytheevaluationteamaboutthetransitionprocedures.Amongissueswhichtheteamislookingatare:

• Importanceofensuringcorrectimplementationofnationallegislation;• EnsuringallelementsareinplacetoensurethattheDRAreceivesanycapacitydevelopment

assistancewhichmaybenecessary;• Theoutcomesmustbesustainable–includingtheregistrationprocess;• TheroleofUNHCRpost-transitioninitssupervisorycapacityneedstobeclarified;• Thebacklogissueneedstobeaddressed;• Quality assurance needs to be addressed so that decision making meets national and

internationalexpectations;• Solutions are a key area – the three durable solutions (local integration, resettlement or

repatriation) are atplay in thediscussionandbasic servicesneed tobeassured for thosegrantedstatus;

• Questionsoftheresourcingoftheprocessneedtobedealtwith.

Withtheseobjectivesandexpectationsinmind,themeetinghasbeenorganised.

DRA’sperspectiveonthetransitionofRSDfunctionsfromUNHCRtoDRA

DRA’sRepresentativecommencedwithanexplanationthatheisprovidingapersonalperspectiveofKenyanRSDtransitionprocessfromUNHCRtoDRA.Startingwiththebackground,thepresentationexamined the process and outstanding strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and the wayforward. RSD as a legal process in Kenya is based on the Refugee Act 2006. Sections 3 and 11provide the legal basis for RSD and the 2009 Regulations provide the detail. Pre 1 July 2014, theofficialhandoverdate,theprocesshadalreadybeenstartedofficiallybytheDRA.BeforethatdateUNHCR carried out RSDon behalf of the government.Nowdocumentation of asylumdecisions isKenyan and provides status under Kenyan law. There are three procedures in Kenyan law – full,simplified and prima facie RSD. Prima facie (PF) constitutes group recognition. The DRA teamtogether with UNHCR began working together to manage transition into a full RSD process bygovernmentwellbeforethehandoverdate.

TheKenyangovernmentdecidedtotakeresponsibility forRSDas it isapillaroftheKenyanDRA’sfive year strategic plan. Refugeemanagement in general and asylum in Kenya forms part of thestrategic plan. The DRA began to implement the strategic plan according to which RSDmust beassumedby2015.This transition is consistentwith the1977UNHCRExComrecommendation fornationalresponsibilityforRSD.

ThereisalsoasecurityconcerninKenyaasregardsasylumseekersandrefugees.ThisisrecognisedevenbytheOfficeofthePresident.Thesecurityconcernshaveincreasedoverthepast4/5yearsasan increase in terrorist attacks have occurred in the country. Kenya is on high alert for terroristattacksandthere isgeneralisedconcernabout threatsat thehighest levels. TheseconcernshavealsomanifestedthroughaneedtoknowwhoislivingontheterritoryofKenyahencetheconcerntotakeresponsibilityforRSD.

There are opportunities and challenges in the RSD transition. The DRA secretariat has beenstrengthenedinthepastfewmonths.Thetransitionofregistrationiskeyasitistheplacewherethedetermination ofwhich type of RSD occurs. For instance theprima facie (PF) treatment of SouthSudaneseclaimsrequiresidentificationatregistration.TherehasbeenmuchcoordinationbetweentheurbanandcampofficersofDRAandUNHCR.

Originallyitwasplannedthattherewouldbetwochannelsbutthesehavebeencollapsedintoone.Thefirst isthepre1July2014backlogandtheotherthenewcases.TheDRAhasnowdecidedtohandleallthecases,includingthebacklogcases.Handlingbothhasbeensuccessfulsofar.

Asregardstraining,RSDstaffincludeslawyerswhohavenowundergoneanRSDtrainingprogrammeover the past 18months. There is a clear training programme and career progressionwhich hasbeendeterminedon thebasisofmonths spent ineachcapacity.Therewillbebenchmarking.Thefirstgroupgraduatedonemonthagoandmovedtothenextstage.Ifthereisasecondgroupnextyear then DRAwill be readywith competent staff knowledgeable about their work and ready toundertakeallRSDtasks.The18months’timelineisrealistic.

Therehasbeenafullassessmentofwhatneedstobedoneoverthe18monthsandhowitwillbecarried out. The programme is one created for Kenya, not taken fromCameroonor Tanzania butfocusedonKenyanneeds.There isa task force inplaceexamininga refugeepolicy forKenyaandwhenitsworkhasbeencompletedandtheCommissionerwillfinalisethatrefugeepolicywhichwillclarifythebiglinesofKenya’spolicyandprovideassistancetothecourtsifissuesarisebeforethem.Theteam isdedicatedandhasthesupport fromtheverytopof theKenyangovernment.There issubstantialpoliticalwillfortheprocessandagenuineinterestatthehighestlevelinthesuccessfulcompletionoftheproject.

What are the challenges? The existing law is good but needs additions correctly to reflectinternational obligations and revised Constitution of the country. There is mutual respect andcooperationamongthepartnerswhichneedsencouragement.Oneoftheweaknesseshasbeenthelack of an appeal structure. It has not been possible to issue rejection letters since 1 July 2014becausetheappealstructureisnotyetinplace.StructuralchangeswithintheDRAareonereasonwith its move from the immigration ministry to the ministry of interior. The DRA has submittednames for themembersof theappealsboardas requiredunder the2006Actbut thisneed tobeadoptedand‘gazetted”(publishedinthenationalgazettewhichhastheeffectofmakingameasurelegallybinding,arequirementoftheAct).

There are staff issues, 80% of the DRA are contract staff whose contracts ended yesterday (28November 2014). The staffs are taking amonth’s leave before the new contracts are likely to beissuedbutthis isnotguaranteed.Becauseoftheexternalfundingnatureoftheirsalaries,whichislimitedtooneyear,someofthemmayfindbetterjobsovertheChristmasbreak.Thereneedstobemorestabilityinthefundingofthestaff.DRAhasadatabase–therewasfundingfromDANIDAforthisbutithasnotbeenparticularlysuccessful.ThebestoptiononregistrationinadatabasewillbetosharetheUNHCRdatabase.Thereareissueofconfidentialitywhichneedtobedealtwith.

At themoment, there is a separation of registration procedures. DRA andUNHCR each carry outregistration.Therearepeopleregisteredineachofthesystemswhichhavenotbeenincludedinthesystemof the other. This is a challenge. A unified databasewill, of course resolvemany of these

problems. The current situationmay be detrimental to protection of refugees as peoplemay ,atleast in theory, fall through thecracks.Somepeopleaskwhy theKenyanauthoritieswant to takethis RSD processing over and external people sometimes question DRA’s capacity. This weakensconfidence and trust in the transition process. The transition of RSD is a clear objective of theKenyangovernment.

Coordinationworkswellatheadquartersbut thisneed tobe replicated in the field.TheTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(whichproposesdecisionson individualcases)needstoworkmoresmoothly.Regarding opportunities these are perhaps less obvious but the development of DRA withmotivation to undertake RSD is an excellent opportunity. The Government of Kenya and UNHCRregionalofficehavebeenverysupportive.Theregionalofficehasbeencentralinprovidingsupport.The DRA hopes that the evaluation will assist the transition. Finally, there are human resourcesissues: therearesomeexcellentandmotivatedyoungKenyanadvocatesavailable towork for theDRA.Iftheyhaveanopportunityandarewellpaidtheyarewillingandabletodothejob.

TheKenyanauthoritiesaredeterminedtotakeoverRSD.Whetherthisiswithinthenext18monthsorlongerisflexible.TherewillbeanexcellentRSDprocesswhichwillbethemodelfortheregion.UNHCR assistance and guidancewill continue to be very important. Possibly a UNHCR appointeecouldhaveaoneyearadvisoryrolewithDRA.TheDRAisconcernedthatinternationalstandardsarefully reflected. The Kenyan authorities need funding to fulfil these objectives. RSD is the mostexpensivepartofrefugeeprotection.HereUNHCRhasaroletoplayinthefundingandsupportofthetransitionprocess.Thereneedstobeclosercooperation.FromtheKenyansidethereisaclearstrategywhichneedstobecompleted.Anymistrustneedstobeaddressed.

UNHCRKenya’sPerspective

TheRSDtransitionprocess is fullysupportedbytheUNHCRAfricaBureauandmostwelcome.Thefocus of this presentation is the main strengths and weaknesses of the RSD process from theperspectiveofUNHCR.Theobjectiveof theprocess ispursued ina constructiveandcollaborativemannernotwithstanding some concerns. Themain strengthsof theprocessneed tobeexaminedfrom the institutional and theoperational perspectives separately. There aremany venueswherethe transition is taking place and a number of transitions (camps, registration, RSD etc). This is areferencepointalsopossiblyforothertransitionprocesses.Directionandsupportisprovidedfromseniormanagementinthebranchofficeprovidingguidelinesandsupport.FromDRAthereisstrongcommitmenttotakeuptheresponsibilities.

AttheoperationlevelUNHCRhasbeendoingRSDonthegovernment’sbehalfformanyyearsandthe UNHCR processes are credible and fair. Documentation and registration are in good shape.Transition is in motion but there are still procedural aspects to be dealt with. Asylum seekers’applicationsarebeingdealtwith inthe jointproceduresofthetransition.AttheUNHCRandDRA,thereisacommitmenttoworktogether.

The key weaknesses are outcomes of the context to some extent. The context is seen ratherdifferentlyfromtheperspectiveofUNHCRandDRAandthisaffectsthetransition.Thereis,onthepart of the authorities, a state security context and formulation of a nexus between refugees (inparticular Somali refugees) and insecurity and terrorism threats in Kenya. DRA’s move into theministryofinteriorreportingtothatministrymeansthatthereisamoredirectsecurityframework

for refugee management. UNHCR sees the Kenyan government’s perspective of refugeemanagement as part of a security/insecurity continuum. The encampment policy, and specificallytheenforcementactionsinMarch2014requiringandforcingSomalirefugeestomovetothecampstogetherwithacalltoKenyanstoreportthepresenceofSomalisintheirneighbourhoodshashadanegative impact on asylumenvironment inNairobi andhindered the provision of protection (andthusalsoRSD).Theencampmentpolicyisstillinforcebutrefugeesarenotcurrentlybeingrelocatedto thecamps.Thegovernment is trying to implement the relocationof theurban refugees to thecampsexceptforthosewhohavebeenspecificallyexempted.Thereissomeuncertaintyabouttheexemptionpolicyandwhetherithasbeenproperlydefinedletaloneimplemented.Thescopeisalsounclear as towhom it applies–newasylum seekersoronlyones alreadyestablished. Since2012therehasbeenno registrationgoingon inurban centres (following the first encampmentpolicy).RegistrationinNairobiisonlyavailableforthemostvulnerablepersons,forwhomanexemptionisavailable.Where refugeescannot registerandgetaccess to theasylumprocess inNairobias theyarerequiredtomovetoKakumaorDadaabtodoso,isanobstacleinUNHCR’sview.Applicantsinurban areas are being givenmovement passes to move to Kakuma or Dadaab, but most peopleremain in Nairobi undocumented and thus even more vulnerable. The policy also appears to befuellingafalsedocumentsindustry.

Fromaninstitutionalpointofview,DRAwascreatedin2006.Mostoftheseniorstaffarestillonlysecondedfromotherministries.TherearenoexistingDRAspecificcivilservicepositions.Ataseniorlevel,thereisalackofcapacityandknowledge.ThereisnoseniorlevelpositiontoprovideguidanceandvisionoftheRSDpolicy.InthetwocampsandNairobithereareDRARSDofficersbutallofthemare at the same level. Some carry out the functions of coordinators and administrators buttechnicallytheyareallatthesamelevel.Theyneedamanagementstructurewhich ismorefirmlyembedded.TheinsertionofDRAintotheministryofinterior(fromtheministryofimmigration)hascoloured the contextwith security concerns. Therearealsoquestionsabout the funding. There islimited government funding for DRA and it depends strongly onUNHCR andDANIDA (theDanishgovernmentaidagency).Theapprovedbudgetfor2015islimitedwhichwillimpactthefutureofthehandoverandtheabilityofUNHCRtoaddressthebacklog.

Attheoperationallevel,generallythereisalackofRSDstaffbothinDRAandUNHCRinparticularatthe review level to deal with the backlog. The frequency of the Technical Advisory Committeemeetings(TAC)whichfrom1July2014permitsUNHCRandDRAtoreviewcasesforafinaldecision(this follows interview and first proposal from interviewers and review by a reviewer). There is aback log here too. The issue of decisions has become cumbersome as UNHCR prepares all thedecisions for the Commissioner. The current set upmeans that DRA is not able to issue decisionletterswhichmeansthattheUNHCRstaffmustmovetoDRAheadquarterstoissuethelettersonceaweek.ThereisalargebacklogparticularlyinKakumaandUNHCRdoesnotwishtohandoverRSDwiththebacklogtoDRA.

Other operational challenges which are acknowledged on both sides are the questions of staffretention.UNHCRinvestsweeksandmonthsonDRAstafftrainingtodoqualitycaseinterviewsandrecommendationsandhopefully in the futurereviewsaswellbutsadlysomeof thestaffmovetootherjobs.ThisisnotamajorissuebutitdoesimpacttheRSDtransition.SomeDRAstaffhavebeenlessthanidealintheirperformancewhichisalsoamatterofconcern.

Thelackofanappealprocesswhichisacriticalgapintheprocessmaypermitachallengeincourt.Somepeoplehavenotreceivedtheirdecisionsafter1July2014becauseitwouldbenegative.Butsuchnegativedecisionscannotbeissuedbecausewithoutinformationontheappealandtheappealstructurewhichhasnotbeenput intoplace theywouldnotbeconsistentwith the2006Act.Oneoptionwould be forUNHCR to take back the pre 1 July 2014 cases and process them for appealundertheUNHCRmandate.Thisisaweaklegaloptionbutwouldbeawayoutforpeoplebeingleftwithoutadecisionfortoolong.Currently,theinformationavailabletoasylumseekersregardingtheprocess has not yet been set out in a leaflet as had been anticipated. UNHCR does provideinformationatthestartoftheprocedurebutthereisnowrittenpackageofinformationavailableatthebeginningoftheprocess.AtthemomentthereisnolegalbasisfortheTAC.

Since2012UNHCRhastrained28staffandyesterday(28November2014)theircontractsendedandallwentoffonaonemonth’sleave.Therehasbeensubstantiallossofthisstaff.DRAhasassumedresponsibilitybutUNHCRfillsgapswherethereisalackofcapacity.Thiswillcontinueforthenext18months.Allpositionsarecurrentlyonhold.Therehavebeen18meetingsoftheTACandallcaseshavebeenendorsedbytheCommissioner.Allrejectioncases(morethan500waitinginthequeue)are on hold. The joint issuance is going ahead. DRA is undertaking registration and then UNHCRcarriesoutregistrationoncetheindividualarriveswiththeDRAregistrationdocument.TherearenoDRAreviewersforthemoment.TheCommissionerendorsesthedecisionsfromtheTAC.Thereisawell-designedtrainingplan for theDRAstaffwhichtakes intoaccount thecomplexityof thecasesandincludestrainingonreviewingcases.

AccordingtoUNHCR,theDRAstaffareintendedtograduatetobecomereviewers.Thefullcourseofon-the-jobtrainingtakesmorethan18months.Thecapacitybuildingisdesignedfortheendresult.UNHCR has a detailed plan for DRA to implement on training. Prior to the 4th of July meetingbetween the Rep and the Commissioner, the ‘step by step RSD handover plan’ was based on a‘handover’ of responsibilities after aperiodof capacitydevelopmentwith regular evaluations andwith progression to the next stage being contingent upon established quality benchmarks. Thisapproach was discontinued as a result of the 4th of July meeting and, from the 1st of July, theCommissioner and other DRA staff assumed RSD responsibilities, with HCR acting as a backup inareaswheretheircapacityremainedtobedeveloped:the‘handover’happenedatthebeginningofthetransitionprocess,notattheend.ThereforethetransitionplanforKenya(versionofNovember2013,orversionofMay2014)isnolongertheplanwhichisbeingimplemented.TheStep-by-Stepplan[entitled ’PhasedhandoverofREGandRSDresponsibilitiesfromUNHCRtotheGovernmentofKenya (GoK’s) Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA), developed and discussed during a jointUNHCR/DRARSDretreatfromthe13thtothe15thofNovember2013’whichwasAnnex1tothoseversions of the RSD project proposal) has been replaced by the document entitled ‘Workplan forTransitionof RSDResponsibilities fromUNHCR toDRA [June 2014-Dcember 2015]. Itwould seemlogical thataresponsibletransitionofRSDresponsibilitiesshouldbeclosely linkedtotheprogressmadeintermsofRSDtrainingandthedevelopmentRSDcompetenciesoftheDRARSDstaff,inlinewiththetrainingplan.Meanwhile,there isno indicationwhetherthephilosophyandplanwillnotchangeagainsoonand/orwhetheritmightpossiblybeagainamendedbyDRA.

Presentation:SolomonWasiaMasitsa,advocatetotheHighCourt,Kenya

TheobjectiveofthispresentationistoexaminehowtoachieveaneffectiveappealsysteminKenya.Theobjectiveistoexaminetheavailableprocessesandinstitutionsinplacewithspecificreferencetotheappellateprocedures.TheRefugeesAct2006isunderreviewbutitisthebasisofthecurrentdiscussion. This presentation is based on the Act as it currently stands (un-amended). Section 9providesfortheestablishmentoftherefugeeappealsboard,requiresitsindependenceandseekstoensureexpertiseofthemembersandchairoftheboard.

TheboardistoreceiveappealsfromaggrievedasylumseekerswhohavereceivedadecisionbytheDRA denying them status. The individual has 30 days to appeal against it. S 10(3) states that anaggrievedpersonstillmayhaverecoursetotheHighCourtwithin20daysofreceiptoftheappealdecision.ThislegislationeffectivelyprovidesforanadministrativeandjudicialprocedurewithinRSD.

From 1 July 2014, UNHCR which was undertaking RSD has been replaced in name by DRA. TheadministrativefunctionsofUNHCRarenotsubjecttotheappealprovisionsundertheAct.

Priorto1July2014,oneofthekeyissuesforapplicantshasbeenthelongdelaysindecisionmakingandreviewafterrejectioncarriedoutbyUNHCRstaff (reviewstakevery longperiodsof time).Anaggrievedpersonmaynotknowwhethertoappealorseekarevieworhowtoprepareeither.Asthesameentitywhichhasmadethedecisionalsodeterminestheappeal(eveniftoaUNHCRofficialataslightlydifferentlevel)theUNHCR‘appeal’processissimplyaninternal,administrativereviewanditisdifficulttodefinethisprocedureasajudicialappeal.

TherecentchangestotheKenyanconstitutionandsubsequentlegislationresultedinthecreationofa new structure, namely the Citizens and ForeignersAppeal Tribunal.When the discussion of the2014Bill isdiscussedinParliament,thereisaproposaltomovetheappealstructuretotheCitizenandForeignerAppealTribunal.TheopinionofKituo(non-governmentalorganization)isthatitisnotagoodideatolumpthisasylumappealintotheTribunal’sresponsibilitieswhichareverywide.Theappealsystemforrefugeestatusdecisionsshouldbeconcentratedintheoneact,intheirview,andnotdilutedoveranumberofdifferentpiecesoflegislationandbodieswithoutspecialisedexpertise.

UndertheRefugeeAct2006oncetheAppealsBoardrejectsanappeal,theaggrievedindividualhasthe right to lodgeappeal to theHighCourt.Actually, constitutionally, there is noneed for suchaprovision as there is a right to seek judicial review of an administrative act.Where an ultra viresargumentcanbemade that thedecisionwasmade inconsistentlywith thepowersgrantedundertheAct,thereisalwaysarighttojudicialreview.

Currently theHighCourtofKenyahas itsownsubstantialbacklogs.UNHCRhashadapartnershipwiththejudicialtraininginstitutetoincreasecapacity.Thisinitiativeshouldcontinueandpossiblybeintensified so that the judiciary will be confident to deal with refugee issues with the sensitivitywhichisrequired.ThereisaspecialisationmoveintheHighCourtbutthishasnotbeenachievedatthemoment.Inanyadministrativereviewofexecutiveoradministrativeactionthereisalwaysthequestionoftheprotectionofthelegitimateprerogativesoftheexecutivebranchanditsexecution.

Italsoisamistaketoforgetthecurrentcontextofsecuritizationofrefugeemattersevenwhenoneisthinkingaboutissuessuchasfairandequitableappealrights.

Thenewchallengeswhichareapparent from theproposed setup include the issuesof aggrievedindividualsbeing reluctant tochallenge the state from fearof thepossibleconsequences for theirsecurity.Legalrepresentationisalsoachallengeasitisfairlylimitedatthemoment.Thereareonlytwonon-governmentalorganizationsoffering legal services to thesepersons.So far refugee law isnotwelldeveloped.IftherearealotofclaimswhichendupintheHighCourt,representationmaybedifficulttofind.

Among the recommendations is the need for capacity building of the judiciary (which is on-goingwithUNHCR). Judges’ sensitivitywhere someone’s life is at stakemust be highlighted. Advocatesneedtrainingandsensitizationtothenewprocedure.Also,probonolegal legalrepresentationforrefugees should be encouraged. The rights of claimants in the process need to be respected andensured.Advocacyeffortsmaybevaluabletopromotetheestablishmentofrefugeeorrefugeeandimmigration chambers. The good will of the government is necessary for the establishment of aspecialchamber.Intheproposedamendmenttothe2006Act,thereneedstobesomelobbyingtoensurethattheBoardisretainedandnotsubstitutedbytheTribunal.

Thedutytoprovidewrittennotificationwithfullreasonsforrefusalmustberespected.Thegroundsofrefusalmustbefulland individualisedsotheapplicantcanappealbasedonknowledgeofwhatissuesmustbeaddressed.Thereshouldalsobe,byright,accesstothefileitselffortheadvocateoftheasylumseekerwhoseclaimhasbeenrejected.

TheRefugeeAppealsBoard,onceestablished,isentitledtoholdmeetingsasfrequentlyasitseesfit.The frequency of these meetings must be sufficient so that the work can be expeditiouslydispatched.TheBoardhasthepowertoadopt itsownrulesofproceedingsbut itneedstohaveadutyofexpeditiousaction.Anynewappeal rightwillhavecost implicationsand theseneed tobeaddressed fully. The appeal institutions, including possibly the chamber of the high court, mustremainindependentandbeproperlyresourced.

Presentation:ProfessorBonaventureRutinwa,UniversityofDaresSalaamSchoolofLaw

The issue of prima facie (PF) grants of status in RSD decisions is a possible way to fulfil stateobligationsnotleastundertheOAUrefugeedefinition.AnidealsystemofRSDneedstobedefinedassetoutintheinceptionreport:fair,efficient,sustainableandeffective.FirstweneedtodefinePF,thendecideunderwhat circumstancesPF shouldbeused,what is it juridical status,whatare theprocedures,whatarethe limitationsofsuchaprocedure,therightsofpersonswithPFstatusandtheimplicationsforsolutions.

PFisastatusdeterminationnotbasedonindividualcircumstancesbuttheobjectivecircumstanceswhich gave rise to the flight. This is slightly different from the Article 1A Refugee Conventiondefinitionwhich seems to require individualization of the reason for flight. In the extended OAUdefinition, the objective circumstances in the country of origin such as occupation, aggression,foreign domination etc can be determined independently of the individual, and result in a PFdecision There are two circumstances in which PF should be used: (a) where objectivecircumstancesthatshowtheindividualinflightisarefugee(inlawofevidence–whatthecourtcan

takejudicialnoticeofwithoutspecificevidence).TheexamplesofwarssuchascivilwarinSomaliain1992aresuch;(b)whereitisimpracticalbecausethenumbersoverwhelmtheadministration.Whenpeople pick up their children and belongings and fleeing substantial numbers PF is a usefuladministrativetool(egRwanda1994).

InEastAfrica,mostrefugeesfleeconflictinmasssituations.Thismeanstheycomeinnumberswhichmake individualised RSD inefficient and potentially impossible in any reasonable time frame. Theprinciples of fairness, efficiency and effectiveness require decisions and documentation within areasonable period of time. People who are registered on objective circumstances may bepresumptive refugees. PF status is a presumptive status but conclusive for the purpose of theinternationalinstruments.IfapresumptionhasbeenestablishedthenitobtainsuntilandunlessitisdisplacedThereare twoapproachesoftenused concurrently:ministerialdeclarations–a group isdeclaredtoberefugeesbyministerialdecree.Thisapproachhasanumberoffeatures:limitationofneedforextensiveproofbeyondidentity,dateofdepartureandcountryoforiginsituation.This iscommoninthelegislation.Thisprocedureshouldbeincludedinlegislationasasafeguardbothforthe administration and people in flight. It helps administrations to overcome bottlenecks. Thesecond approach is to establish a bodywhich puts people through an interview designed only todeterminewhetherthe individualactuallycomesfromtheplacewherethecivilwar israging.ThishasbeenusedinTanzaniaandalsoinKenyaalready.

InKenyaUNHCRstartedcarryingoutRSDin1991.Beforethatdatethegovernmentdidsoundertheimmigration act. With the influx of the Somalis, the government considered it impractical tocontinue the procedure and asked UNHCR to conduct RSD. UNHCR entered into a partnershipagreementwiththeJesuitRefugeeServicetocarryouttheprocedure.JRSissuedrecognitionlettersand this procedure continued until 1998 when the US embassy was bombed and the Kenyangovernmentrevokedtheprocedure(searticleinIJRL2andalsoarticlebyMoret20033).

The reasons for PF use in Kenya originally were practical not underpinned by law. It was quick,efficient and fair. The main limitations are (a) there are the provisions of the Art 1A RefugeeConventiondefinitionsuchasexclusionwhicharehardtoapply; (b)peoplemaybeadmittedwhomaynotbeexcludablebutmaynotdeserveinternationalprotection.Whilethesearerealproblemsthe advantages can be substantial. Excludable persons are always few and may be covered bycancellationofstatuswhereanexpostexaminationwhichrevealsexclusiongrounds.IfarefugeeisrecognisedunderPFaccordingtotheOAUrefugeedefinitionthesamerightsmustbeaccordedasavailabletothosewhoreceiverecognitiononthebasisofanindividualexamination.

There is value in having legislative provisions for PF and a necessity in East Africa in light of thenumbersandavailableresources.

Presentation:ProfessorGilbertKhadiagala,WitsUniversitySouthAfrica

2Rutinwa,Bonaventure,WilliamONeill,andGuglielmoVerdirame."TheGreatLakes:AsurveyoftheapplicationoftheexclusionclausesintheCentralAfricanRepublic,KenyaandTanzania."InternationalJournalofRefugeeLaw12(2000):135-170.3Moret,Joelle,SimoneBaglioni,andDeniseEfionayi-Mäder."ThepathofSomalirefugeesintoexile:Acomparativeanalysisofsecondarymovementsandpolicyresponses."SFM,2006.

Whatare the issuesof regional securityasexamined through the lensof refugeeprotection?TheRSD process is interesting as a focus regarding the externalities of cooperation among nationalresponsibilitiesandregionalintegration.

As regards the prospects for peace in the region,major security challenges facing East Africa aresubstantial. There has been substantial work on this issue and although some rather depressingresearchwaspresentedafewyearsago,sadly,thesituationhasnotchangedmuch.Thereisalegacyof refugee production in the region. An important challenge is: how do we reduce refugeeproduction in the region? The objective is a region which does not produce refugees, statelesspersons (and reductionof theUNHCR case load). The flip side iswhat are the causes of refugeeproductionandwhydoesthisregionremainstubbornlyresistanttoremedies.Willthisarearemainunstable?

East Africa is not yet out of the woods as regards instability. The independence of East Africacountries is recent. 50 years is not long in the history of state building, stability and managingdiversity which is part of the explanation. East Africa ‘proper’ is a fairly peaceful region (Kenya,UgandaandTanzania).Thereisalegacyofworkingtogetherandregionalintegrationwhichcannotbeunderemphasisedinbuildingpeaceandsecurity.Yet,EastAfricahasroughneighbours–theHornofAfricainparticular–whichhasdrawnEastAfricaintoitsissuesandcreatedfragilities.Neighbourscomewithbaggage–forinstancehowtodealwithpeaceandsecurityissues.ThesynergiesofEastAfricacanbedestabilisedbytheGreatLakesandHornofAfricastateformationissues.Therearestillsubstantiallyweakstatesandgovernmentswhichlacklegitimacyandstabilityintheregionleadingtoinstabilityandrefugeecreation.Governmentswhichdonothavesubstantialreacheswithintheirterritories and only touch the surfaces tend to be common. Such governments tend to lacklegitimacyandthecapacitytoregulatedisputesoftencharacterisedbydiversityissuesshadowedbyunequal resource allocation. There are ecological and health vulnerabilities which have alsodiminished the capacity of governments to sustain their regimes. These issues have importantimpactsonrefugeeproduction.

Environmentalvulnerabilitieswill, inevitably,producemorerefugees intheregion.Theregionalsohasaproliferationofmarginalgroupsand lawless communitiesparticularly in theborder landsofformer and existing states. These are the main sources of refugees. They will remain, for theforeseeable future, areas part of the political landscape which will also be part of an insecuritypoliticaldynamic.

Therearealsothetransnationalcrimethreatssuchasterrorism(inparticularsince1989)towhichtheregionissusceptible.Piracymaybediminishingandthisispositive,butthisisnottheendoftheproblemoftransnationalcrime.Drugtraffickingisamongthosechallengesinrespectofwhichthereareinsufficientstatestructures.

A further regional issue is integration – the processes of regional integration key solutions to theinstabilitiescurrentoccurringintheborderregions.Butonecannotforgetthatthegovernancecrisisis central to the region. Election processes are presented as solutions but too few questions areasked about the quality of those elections. Similarly the constitutional experiments are works inprogress which are not fully encompassing regional tensions or providingmechanisms to resolvedisputesover allocationof resources. Constitutional struggles are common, including in a countrysuchasTanzaniawhichseemssomuchmorestable.Howarenationalelitesaggregatingthemselves

aroundnewinstitutions?Theconstitutionalframeworkshavesofarnotbeenparticularlysuccessfulinbringingtransparencyandlegitimacytogovernanceinthisregard.Similarly,eliteprocrastinationdoes not assist stability in East Africa. These shortcomings in the current political reality do notcontributetothereductionofrefugeeproduction.

Thenewentrants to theEastAfrican regional framework suchasRwandaandBurundibring theirown political baggage which include political instabilities. The transitional planning processes inthesecountriesarenotclear.Theconstitutionaldebatesinthesecountriesgeneratedeepissuesonelite consolidation and incorporation of diversity. Elections in the region seem to be reproducingproblems of ethnic polarization. These are big governance issues, even without discussing SouthSudan which has absorbed substantial international resources but been able to achieve littlestability.

So thescenarioongovernance isnotgoodas there isa lackof regional leaderswhocanpromotegovernancevalues.Leadersneedtorecognisethegovernanceweaknesseswhicharelikelytoleadtofurtherinstabilityandbehaveaccordingly.Theproliferationofsocalledearlywarningsystemsintheregionhavefailedtoproduceusefulresultsontheground.Cyclesofhungerreflectstateneglectandmarginalizationofcommunitieswhichareinturnhotbedsforinstability.

Tounderstandpeaceandsecurityintheregion,the1960sdebatesareausefulreferencepointfromwhich to examine the centrality of regional economic integration as a stability tool. The securityhorizon must be founded in a regional agenda which is capable to extending beyond individualstates. The East African community has admitted a series of new countries with very substantialproblemswhichbringwiththemtheirown instability. Insuchareality,peaceandstabilityrequirestrongregionalinstitutions.Yet,thedebatemustbetransparentandclarifytheobjectivesandhowtoarriveatthem.SomediscussionsarewelldevelopedsuchastheEastAfricanBrigadeaspartoftheOAUforcesbutthisremainsoneofthefewstrongoutcomes.Oneofthekeyproblemisthatofvalues – there needs to be a clear definition of regional valueswhich can then form the basis ofpolicydevelopment. Is itpossible tobuildvaluesaroundRSD in this region.However, thedebatesneedtobehonest–for instance:cantheTanzanianexampleofnaturalizationofBurundirefugeesbearegionalnormonthebasisofanagreementthatthestateoforiginmustnotcreateevenmorerefugees?

The regional institutions need to be developed clearly and solidly. This is an inherent part of thehistoryoftheregionanditseconomicreality.Theissueswhichneedtobediscussedinacommonmannersuchasterrorismneedproperandsolidinstitutionswithinwhichthesedebatestakeplace.Similarly,thereisaneedtopromoteeffectiveandresponsibleleadershipwhichfocusesonnationalandregionalagendasforthebenefitofthewholeregion.Borderdisputesneedtoberesolvedinacoherentmanner.Thenaturalresourcediscoveriesintheregionarelikelytocreatenewinsecuritiesif they are not resolved in proper regional institutions with responsible leadership. Regionalmechanismsneedtobesufficientlyrobusttoprovidethevenuesofrecoursewhichareacceptedaslegitimateforstatesintheregion.

Onecannotavoidthe issueofreligious fundamentalism,notsimplythe Islamic fundamentalismofgroups such as Al Shabaab, but also Christian fundamentalism and other forms of religiousintolerance.Iftheregionabandonstheprincipleoftoleranceitwillcontinuetocreaterefugees.

MembersoftheSteeringCommitteefortheformativeevaluationof

TheRefugeeStatusDeterminationprocessinKenya.PhaseII

Chairman:MichaelRoss–InternationalConsultantonRefugeeLaw

MichaelRossisaninternationalconsultantspecializinginrefugeelaw.CurrentlyheisworkingwiththeUNHCRandtheIrishgovernmentonaprojectaimedatstrengtheningtherefugeeprotectionsysteminthatcountry.OverthepastseveralyearsMichaelhasledEU/UNHCRmulti-countryprojectsexaminingthecausesofdivergencesinrefugeeacceptanceratesthroughouttheEU.TheseprojectshavealsoincludedtheprovisionoftrainingtofirstinstancedecisionmakersinthefieldaswellastoTribunalmembersandjudges.MichaelsitsonthegoverningCounciloftheInternationalAssociationofRefugeeLawJudges[IARLJ]andisChairoftheAmericasChapter.Priortoretirement,MichaelwasajudgeontheImmigrationandRefugeeBoardofCanada[IRB]servingbothintheImmigrationAppealDivisionandtheRefugeeProtectionDivision.MichaelholdsaMaster’sDegreeinPhilosophyfromtheUniversityofAlbertaaswellasadegreeinlawfromtheUniversityofBritishColumbia.

WilbertvanHövell,formerDeputyDirectorDIP.

Wilbert van Hövell has extensive experience in the delivery and management of internationalprotection,includingintheareaofrefugeestatusdetermination.Afterstartinghiscareerin1978asa lawyer in an Amsterdam law firm, his main field assignments with UNHCR were in Cameroon,Djibouti,formerYugoslavia,RwandaandBangladesh.InGenevaheservedintheexecutiveofficeofHigh Commissioner Sadako Ogata and later as deputy director of the Division of InternationalProtection.BeforeretiringhewasUNHCR’sRegionalRepresentativeforWesternEuropeinBrussels(2009-2011). Inaddition,MrvanHövellhasworked intwopeacekeepingmissions, i.e.asheadofofficeinthehumanitarianpillarofUNMIKinKosovoduringthe1999-2000winteremergencyandasdirectorhumanrightsandtransitionaljusticeofUNMITinTimorLesteduringtheunstableperiodof2007-2008. In2013Wilbertwas,asaconsultant,theteamleaderofPhase1oftheRSDprojectofPDES

Tino(Constantin)Hruschka–UniversityofBielefeld(Germany)

TinoHruschkateachesEUlawandEuropeanAsylumLawattheUniversitiesofBielefeldandFribourg.Inadditiontohisteachingpositions,heworksasascientificprojectmanagerattheSwissCentreofExpertiseinHumanRightsinBern(sinceApril2014)onaprojectontheevaluationoftheSwissasylumsystem.HehaswrittenextensivelyontheCommonEuropeanAsylumSystemandvariousaspectsofinternationalrefugeelaw(mostlyinGerman).Constantinstudiedlaw,historyandphilosophyinWürzburg,PoitiersandParis.SubsequentlyheworkedasascientificresearcherattheUniversitiesofWürzburgandMunich.Afterhisbarexamin2002hestartedworkingasalawyerinMunich.Foralmosttenyears,ConstantinhasworkedwithUNHCR(between2004andMarch2014)indifferentpositionsinNuremberg(Germany)andGeneva.InhislastpositionasPolicyOfficerwithPDEShehascontributedtophase1oftheRSDproject.

Ms.AnnMonicaEncontre,DeputyDirectorAfricaBureau

wasborninTortola,BritishVirginIslands.Sheisanationalof(theFormerBritish)Guyana.SheistheholderofaBachelorofLawsfromtheUniversityoftheWestIndies(Barbados)andMastersfromNormanManleySchoolinJamaica.ShejoinedtheInternationalLabourOffice(ILO)inGenevain1992asaConsultant,legalresearch,inthePersonnelDepartment.SheundertookamissiontoSaoToméandPrincipeforUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment,(UNCTAD).Mrs.EncontrejoinedUNHCRin1993asaConsultant,SpecialistinthedevelopmentofLegaldatabases(REFWORLD),researchonthecountriesoforiginofrefugees,attheCentreforDocumentationandResearch,HQ,Geneva.ShemanagedUNHCR’sGlobalAppealsandReportsUnitintheDonorRelationsServiceforfouryearsbeforemovingtotheFieldwheresheworkedinDarfur,SouthSudan,DjiboutiandChad.InDjibouti,shewasUNHCR’sRepresentativeforthreeyearsbeforegoingtoChad,whereshewasHeadofofficeinFarchana,EastChad.Thereafter,fromJune2011toJanuary2014,Mrs.EncontrewasassignedasUNHCR’sRepresentativetotheRepublicofCôted’Ivoire.SheassumedhermostrecentfunctionsinJanuary2014,asDeputyDirectorintheRegionalBureauforAfrica,coveringtheEastandtheHornofAfricaandinMarch,shewasnamedastheRegionalRefugeeCoordinatorfortheSouthSudancrisis.

Ms.StefanieGross,SeniorRSDOfficer,RSDUnit/DIP

StefanieGrossiscurrentlyactingasSeniorRSDOfficerintheRSDUnitinDIP.Previously,StefanieworkedasRSDAdvisorandasAssociateProtectionOfficer(RSD)intheRSDUnit.BeforejoiningUNHCR,StefanieworkedasaHumanRightsOfficerforOHCHRinthefieldandasHumanRightsObserverforanINGOinheadquartersandinthefield.StefanieholdsanMAinConflictResolutionandaBAinPoliticsandInternationalRelations.

Dr Cathryn Costello B.C.L., (N.U.I., Cork), LL.M. (Bruges), B.L. (Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin), DPhil (Oxon.)

Cathryn Costello is Andrew W. Mellon Associate Professor in International Human Rights and Refugee Law, at the Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford, with a fellowship at St Antony's College. Since 2003, she has been a fellow and tutor in EU & public law at Worcester College, Oxford, during which time she also completed her DPhil studies on EU asylum and immigration law. Cathryn has published widely on many aspects of asylum and refugee law, in particular access to asylum and asylum procedures. She also write on immigration law, EU Citizenship and third country national family members, family reunification and immigration detention. Her work on immigration detention includes a journal article, ‘Human Rights & the Elusive Universal Subject: Immigration Detention under International Human Rights and EU Law’ (2012) Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 257 and a report for UNHCR (with Esra Kaytaz) entitled Building Empirical Research into Alternatives to Detention.Cathryn has undertaken research for UNHCR, the European Parliament, and the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. She is regularly invited to address diverse audiences, both academic and practical, such as the European Council of Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and International Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ). She is also a Senior Research Associate of the Refugee Law Initiative of the University of London. She previously served on the boards of both the Irish Refugee Council and

Immigrant Council of Ireland, and contributes to the policy work of ILPA. She is also on the Advisory Panel for the EDAL (European Database for Asylum Law) Database Project.

Professor.BonaventureRutinwa,DeanSchoolofLawandDirector,CentrefortheStudyofForcedMigrationUniversityofDaresSalaamSchoolofLaw.

Dr.BonaventureRutinwaisaProfessorofLawattheUniversityofDaresSalaamwherehealsoservesastheDeanSchoolofLaw,DirectoroftheCentrefortheStudyofForcedMigrationandCoordinatoroftheInternationalMigrationProgramme.Heholds,amongotherqualifications,aDoctorateinLawoftheUniversityofOxfordforwhichhewroteadissertationonrefugeelaw.Hehaspublishedextensivelyonvariousrefugeelawtopics,deliveredlecturesonrefugeelawatvariousacademicinstitutionsinAfrica,EuropeJapanandRussia.HehasservedasaconsultantforvariousinternationalorganisationsincludingtheAfricaUnion,EastAfricanCommunity,EuropeanUnion,UNDP,andUNHCR.Between2007and2009,hewastheSeniorLegalAdvisorforthenaturalizationof162,000BurundianrefugeesinTanzania.Hehasalsocarriedoutextensiveworkinrelationtomigration,citizenshipandrefugeelawandpolicyreform.HehasrecentlyfinalizedthedraftNationalMigrationandDevelopmentPolicyforTanzaniaandheispresentlytheleadtechnicalexpertforthegovernmentofTanzaniafortherevisionoftheTanzaniaRefugeesAct(1998)andtheTanzaniaRefugeePolicy(2003)inTanzaniaandisadvisingtheGovernmentontheprocessofratificationoftheinternationalinstrumentsonstatelesspersonsandinternallydisplacedpersons(IDPS).

GeoffreyWafula,HeadofProtection,DepartmentofRefugeeAffairs(Nairobi)

GeoffreyWafulaworksintheDepartmentofRefugeesAffairs,GovernmentofKenya.WafulaholdsanMAinConflictandCoexistenceStudiesspecializinginForcedMigrationfromtheHellerSchoolofSocialPolicyandManagementatBrandeisUniversity,USA.HehasalsoundertakentheInternationalRefugeesLawcourseattheInstituteofInternationalHumanitarianLaw,Sanremo,Italy.AnAlumniofFordFoundation’sIFPProgram,Wafulahasavastexperienceindevelopingandimplementinghumansecurityandconflictinterventionstrategiesparticularlyonforcedmigrants.AstheHeadofProtection,Mr.Wafula,amongotherroles,coordinatestheRSDfunctioninthedepartment.Asaresult,heiscurrentlyamemberoftheTaskForceonRSDhandingoverfromUNHCRRSDmandatetotheNationalRSDmandateinKenya.HeisalsotheChairoftheRSDTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(TAC),acommitteethathasbeenputinplacetoadvicetheCommissionerforRefugeesAffairsonRSDissuesinthecountryduringandafterthetransitionperiod.

CatherineHamonSharpe,AssistantRepresentative(Protection),UNHCRKenya

CatherineHamon-SharpeisthecurrentAssistantRepresentativeforprotectioninUNHCRNairobi.ShejoinedtheUNHCROperationinBurundiin1994andhasbeenworkinginmanydifferentoperationssincetheninAfricaandinEurope.ShehasextensiveexperienceinprotectiondeliveryandmanagementincludingresettlementandRSD.ShehasbeenmanagingtheRSDprocessinCameroonandcurrentlyoverseesthegradualRSDhand-overprocesstotheKenyanauthorities.SheisamemberoftheRSDTechnicalAdvisoryCommittee(TAC),thathasbeenputinplacetoadvicetheCommissionerforRefugeesAffairsonRSDissuesduringandafterthistransitionperiod.ShehasaMAininternationalandEUlawofeconomicsandaMAinInternationalAdministrationfromParisXandIILawUniversity.

ProfessorGilbertKhadiagala,WitsUniversitySouthAfrica.

GilbertM.KhadiagalaiscurrentlytheJanSmutsProfessorofInternationalRelationsandHeadofDepartmentofInternationalRelationattheUniversityofWitwatersrand,Johannesburg,SouthAfrica.Heteachescoursesininternationaldimensionsofhumansecurity,Africaninternationalrelations,conflictresolutioninAfrica,andpoliticaleconomyofAfrica.BorninKenya,hedidadvanceddegreesinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.Prof.KhadiagalaholdsaM.A.inpoliticalsciencefromMcMasterUniversityinHamilton,Ontario,Canada,andaPhDininternationalstudiesfromthePaulH.NitzeSchoolofAdvancedInternationalStudies(SAIS),theJohnsHopkinsUniversity,Washington,D.C.BeforemovingtoSouthAfricain2007,hetaughtintheUnitedStatesfor16years.Hisresearchfocusesonsecurity,governance,andpoliticsinEasternAfrica,SouthernAfrica,andtheGreatLakesregion.Amonghisrecentpublicationsare:MeddlersorMediators?AfricanIntervenersinCivilConflictsinEasternAfrica(2007),SecurityDynamicsinAfrica’sGreatLakesRegion(2006),Sudan:TheElusiveQuestforPeace(2007),andConflictManagementandAfricanPolitics:Ripeness,Bargaining,andMediation(2008).

Prof.Khadiagalahasbeenaconsultantongovernance,humanrights,security,andpoliticsfortheAfricanUnion(AU),AfricanDevelopmentBank(AfDB),theEastAfricanCommunity(EAC),theCommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica(COMESA),theUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID),theNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP),theUnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforAfrica(UNECA),andtheWorldBank.HisiscurrentlypartofagroupthatisdraftingtheAUTransitionalJusticeFramework.

SeanSafford,ProfessorofEconomicSociology,SciencesPo

SeanSaffordisAssociateProfessorofEconomicSociologyandDirectoroftheMasterofPublicAffairsatSciencesPo,Paris.Hisresearchconcernstheduallabormarkethypothesis,thefutureofworkervoiceandthesocial,historicalandinstitutionaldeterminantsofadaptationtoeconomicchange.HewastheleadresearcherfortheMITLocalInnovationSystemsProjectandisaffiliatedwiththeBrookingsInstitution'sMetropolitanPolicyProgram.Hisbook,“WhytheGardenClubCouldn’tSaveYoungstown:SocialCapitalandtheTransformationoftheRustBelt”(HarvardUniversityPress2009)wontheSage-LouisPondyPrizefromtheAcademyofManagementaswellasBestBookfromadissertationfromtheAmericanSociologicalAssociation.SeanSaffordearnedhisBachelor’sdegreeatCornellUniversity’sSchoolofIndustrialandLaborRelationsandhisPh.D.fromtheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.HewaspreviouslyanAssistantProfessorofOrganizationsandStrategyattheUniversityofChicago’sGraduateSchoolofBusiness,aLecturerattheLondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScienceandaVisitingProfessorattheUniversityofPennsylvania,WhartonSchool.

SolomonWasiaMasitsa,advocateoftheHighCourtofKenyaandanAssociateMemberoftheCharteredInstituteofArbitrators

SolomonWasiaMasitsaleftprivatelegalpracticetojointheForcedMigrationProgramofKituochaSheria(LegalAdviceCenter)intheyear2009.KituochaSheriaisaLegalAidNon-GovernmentalOrganizationandanImplementingPartneroftheUNHCRinNairobi,Kenya.HeservedinthecapacityofProgramOfficer(Legal)andlaterrosetobecometheProgramManagerintheyear2011.HeisanAdvocateoftheHighCourtofKenyaandanAssociateMemberoftheCharteredInstituteofArbitrators.HecurrentlyservesontheAdvisoryCommitteeofthe

InternationalDetentionCoalition.Hispresentdutiesentail,amongmanyothers,advisingrefugeesandasylumseekersonvariousissuesincludingeligibility,refugeestatusdeterminationanddurablesolutions,counsellingrefugeesontheirrightsandobligationsinthecountryofasylum,preparationoflegalassessmentsforrefugeesandasylumseekers,representationofrefugeesandasylumseekersincourtsonchargesofunlawfulpresenceunderimmigrationlaws,conductingregulardetentionmonitoringandinterventionsatpolicestationsandprisonfacilitiesandidentification,filingandprosecutionofsuitsintheinteresttothelargerrefugeefraternitybesidesundertakinggeneraladvocacyandawarenesscreationactvitiesaimedatexpandingandprotectingtheasylumspaceinKenya.Hehas,inthecourseofhiswork,benefitedfromavarietyoftrainingsinrefugeeprotectionlocally,regionallyandinternationally.SolomonholdsaPostgraduateDiplomainLawfromtheKenyaSchoolofLawandaBachelor’sDegreeinLawfromtheUniversityofNairobi.HeisundertakingaMasterofArtsinDiplomacyattheUniversityofNairobi.