Kenya is taking a major step toward expanding access to education, training, and employment for refugees and forcefully displaced persons through the development of a National Policy Framework for mainstreaming the UNESCO Qualifications Passport (UQP). The initiative is led jointly by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and UNESCO, building on years of consultations, awareness forums, and technical capacity-building on UQP processes.
The UQP enables refugees and forcefully displaced persons to have their qualifications evaluated against established mechanisms, even when they lack full documentation. With Kenya hosting a large refugee population, integrating the UQP into the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) will expand access to education, skills development, and employment for displaced learners.
To advance this effort, KNQA and UNESCO are convening a drafting workshop from 25–28 November 2025 at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind. The workshop brings together representatives from CUE, TVETA, NITA, SDTVET, SDHE, SDBE, DRS, IRC, UNHCR, KNATCOM and other key partners. Participants are reviewing progress made so far, drafting policy chapters, and outlining an implementation roadmap.
This initiative positions Kenya as a regional leader in promoting fair, transparent, and humane recognition of learning for refugees and displaced individuals. By institutionalizing the UQP, Kenya reaffirms its commitment to educational rights, learner mobility, and the dignity of all persons.
As part of the visit, the delegation proceeded to plant a commemorative tree at the institution, underscoring KNQA’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and national greening efforts.
