By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
Kenya, 11 August 2026 - Danish Refugee Council (DRC), in collaboration with the Department of Women Empowerment and Affirmative Action through the Gender Technical Working Group, has conducted a community engagement forum aimed at strengthening public awareness of protection services and improving access to referral mechanisms in Mandera County.
The engagement brought together community members and key stakeholders to provide information on the work being undertaken by DRC in partnership with various organizations and government departments under the SDACKED project.
The forum provided an opportunity for DRC and its partners to highlight achievements recorded within the protection sector, while also giving community members a better understanding of the services available to individuals facing protection concerns.
A key focus of the meeting was strengthening awareness of existing referral pathways. Participants were taken through the various channels available for accessing protection, gender-based violence, and other support services, with an emphasis on ensuring that cases are referred to the appropriate service providers in a timely and confidential manner.
Fatuma Ahmed, a representative of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Mandera, said the organisation has introduced a referral catalogue designed to improve access to essential services for vulnerable community members.
“The referral catalogue has been developed to make it easier for community members, community-based actors and frontline service providers to identify the services available and connect individuals in need with the relevant institutions,” said Ahmed.
She noted that the catalogue will help strengthen referral pathways by providing clear information on where individuals can seek appropriate support and services.
The catalogue is expected to improve coordination among service providers while reducing delays in accessing assistance, particularly for vulnerable groups, including women, children and other individuals requiring protection support.
Fatuma also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between government departments, humanitarian organizations, community structures and other stakeholders in addressing protection concerns and ensuring that affected individuals receive appropriate assistance.
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The foum also provided an opportunity for Mandera residents to raise concerns, seek clarification on available services and better understand the role of different actors within the protection sector.
Drc ensured that there woild be continued community awareness is essential in ensuring that residents understand their rights, know where to seek help and can access available services without unnecessary barriers.
Mandera DCC Stephen Komote, thanked the organizers, partners and community members for their participation and encouraged continued cooperation in strengthening protection services across the county.
The engagement is part of ongoing efforts by stakeholders to improve coordination, enhance community awareness and strengthen referral systems for protection services in Mandera.
Danish Refugee Council, Mandera Women Empowerment Department Hold Community Engagement on Protection Services
Referral catalogue by Danish Refugee Council was designed to improve access to essential services for vulnerable community members.