• 2026-02-18

Talk To Talk Forum 2026: Reimagining Partnership in the Refugee Response

Across Kenya and beyond, conversations about refugees happen every day — in coordination meetings, project reviews, policy discussions, and donor consultations. Yet too often, those most affected by displacement are invited only after decisions have already been shaped. Refugee-led organizations are frequently expected to implement solutions rather than help design them. For many years, this gap has quietly shaped how humanitarian and development systems operate. Partnerships exist, but trust is uneven. Coordination exists, but understanding is incomplete. Dialogue happens, but rarely leads to measurable change. Talk To Talk Forum 2026 was created to change that reality. Planned for 15–16 July 2026 in Nairobi, the Talk To Talk Forum is a national refugee-led convening that brings together refugee leadership from Nairobi, Kakuma–Kalobeyei, and Dadaab alongside UN agencies, NGOs, diplomatic missions, donors, government representatives, and private-sector actors. Its purpose is simple but ambitious: to transform dialogue into accountable partnership.

From Conversation to Commitment Talk To Talk is not designed as a traditional conference. It is built as a working platform — a space where difficult conversations can happen constructively and where shared solutions can begin to take shape. The forum recognizes a reality many actors already understand: sustainable refugee responses require collaboration grounded in mutual respect, transparency, and shared responsibility. Refugee-led organizations are not only service providers or community mobilizers; they are knowledge holders, innovators, and leaders working closest to community realities. The forum creates an environment where institutions and refugee leaders can engage honestly about what works, what does not, and how partnerships can improve. The Heart of the Forum: One-on-One Partnership Clinics At the center of Talk To Talk are the One-on-One Partnership Clinics — structured, facilitated dialogue sessions between refugee-led organizations and institutional actors. These are not networking meetings. They are guided working conversations designed to: clarify expectations between partners, address coordination challenges, explore collaboration opportunities, and define practical next steps. Each session results in documented commitments that feed into a follow-up accountability process. The aim is to move beyond symbolic engagement toward real collaboration that continues long after the forum ends. Three Outcomes That Go Beyond the Event Talk To Talk Forum 2026 is designed to produce tangible outcomes that shape future engagement across the refugee ecosystem. 1. Kenya Refugee Partnership Communiqué 2026 This document will capture shared priorities, lessons, and commitments emerging from the forum. It will serve as a collective reference point for improving collaboration and guiding future action.

2. Talk To Talk Partnership Charter The Charter will outline principles for equitable partnerships — including transparency, mutual respect, safeguarding, and accountability to affected populations. Institutions and organizations may voluntarily endorse it as a commitment to better partnership practice. 3. A 12-Month Follow-Up Scorecard A small Forum Secretariat hosted by L’AFRIKANA will track progress on commitments made during the forum, ensuring dialogue translates into measurable change. Together, these mechanisms ensure that Talk To Talk is not remembered as an event, but as a process. A National Dialogue Connecting Communities One of the defining features of Talk To Talk is its national scope. Refugee leadership from urban and camp settings will participate equally, reflecting the diversity of experiences across Kenya’s displacement landscape. Urban refugees navigating livelihoods and documentation challenges will sit alongside leaders from Kakuma and Dadaab managing community protection, education, and resilience initiatives. Institutional actors will engage directly with these perspectives, helping bridge gaps between policy discussions and lived realities. This inclusive approach strengthens not only partnerships but also shared understanding. Why This Moment Matters The humanitarian landscape is changing. Funding pressures, shifting global priorities, and evolving displacement dynamics require new ways of working together. Localization is no longer a theoretical discussion; it is a practical necessity. Talk To Talk responds to this moment by offering a constructive platform where institutions and refugee-led organizations can jointly rethink collaboration — not through criticism, but through honest dialogue and shared responsibility. The forum recognizes that meaningful change happens when trust is built, expectations are clarified, and commitments are followed through. Building the Future Together Talk To Talk Forum 2026 represents a step toward a more inclusive and accountable refugee response — one where dialogue leads to action and partnerships evolve through learning rather than assumption. By bringing together diverse actors in one structured space, the forum aims to strengthen coordination, encourage innovation, and support solutions shaped by those closest to the challenges. The invitation is open to all partners who believe that better collaboration leads to better outcomes for refugee communities and host societies alike. Because real progress begins when we move from talking about partnership to truly talking with one another. Talk To Talk Forum 2026 Kenya National Refugee Partnership Dialogue (Launch Edition) 📍 Nairobi, Kenya | 15–16 July 2026 🌐 www.lafrikana.org 📩 support@lafrikana.or.ke Join the conversation. Shape the future together.