The “Problem” of Encampment : Analysing Problem Representations of The Kenyan Shirika Plan

Sammanfattning

Kenya is transitioning from an encampment policy to an integration policy for refugees, a core shift represented by the Shirika Plan which seeks to absorb refugee camps into municipalities. International bi- and multilateral donors support this policy shift through financial and technical support. This thesis analyses different problem representations of encampment in relation to the Shirika Plan, comparing between those of the government of Kenya, UNHCR, and the World Bank. The analysis is based on official policy documents and political speeches and draws on Carol Bacchi's “What's the problem represented to be” approach. The analysis identifies several key differences in the problem representations of the actors across multiple sectors, suggesting a lack of shared problem foundation, which carries implications for the implementation of the Shirika Plan and its positioning as a global precedent. The study also identifies key silences in relation to encampment in the Shirika Plan, arguing that those silences are used to depoliticise the interventions.