Pathways to Market Inclusion for Urban Refugees and Host Communities - A Market System Analysis of the Beauty and Personal Care, Creative and Construction Sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya

Sep 18, 2026

Market systems assessment examining how urban refugees and vulnerable host communities in Nairobi and Mombasa can access economic opportunities through livelihoods and social protection. Kenya hosts large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers, many living in urban areas with barriers to decent work, entrepreneurship, and formal support. The study, implemented by the International Labour Organization using the AIMS framework, analyzes the beauty and personal care, creative, and construction sectors to identify inclusion pathways under the Refugees Act 2021 and related policy context.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages84

Reading Time3 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Urban refugee context in Kenya

Challenges to decent work and social protection

Market-based, holistic approach and assessment framework

X Pathways to Market Inclusion for Urban Refugees and Host Communities A Market System Analysis of the Beauty and Personal Care, Creative and Construction Sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya X Pathways to Market Inclusion for Urban Refugees and Host Communities A Market System Analysis of the Beauty and Personal Care, Creative and Construction Sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya International Labour Office ii © International Labour Organization 2025. First published 2025. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4 .0) This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. See: creativecommons. org/licences/by/4.0. The user is allowed to reuse, share (copy and redistribute), adapt (remix, transform and build upon the original work) as detailed in the licence. The user must clearly credit the ILO as the source of the material and indicate if changes were made to the original content. Use of the emblem, name and logo of the ILO is not permitted in connection with translations, adaptations or other derivative works. Attribution – The user must indicate if changes were made and must cite the work as follows: Pathways to market inclusion for urban refugees and host communities: A market system analysis of the beauty and personal care, creative and construction sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, Geneva: International Labour Office, 2025. © ILO. Translations – In case of a translation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This is a translation of a copyrighted work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This translation has not been prepared, reviewed or endorsed by the ILO and should not be considered an official ILO translation. The ILO disclaims all responsibility for its content and accuracy. Responsibility rests solely with the author(s) of the translation. Adaptations – In case of an adaptation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of a copyrighted work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This adaptation has not been prepared, reviewed or endorsed by the ILO and should not be considered an official ILO adaptation. The ILO disclaims all responsibility for its content and accuracy. Responsibility rests solely with the author(s) of the adaptation. Third-party materials – This Creative Commons licence does not apply to non-ILO copyright materials included in this publication. If the material is attributed to a third party, the user of such material is solely responsible for clearing the rights with the rights holder and for any claims of infringement. Any dispute arising under this licence that cannot be settled amicably shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The parties shall be bound by any arbitration award rendered as a result of such arbitration as the final adjudication of such a dispute. For details on rights and licensing, contact: [rights@ilo.org](rights@ilo.org. For details on)[. For details on](rights@ilo.org. For details on) ILO publications and digital products, [visit:](visit: www.ilo.org/publns)[ ](visit: www.ilo.org/publns)[www.ilo.org/publns](visit: www.ilo.org/publns). ISBN: 9789220426470 (web PDF) DOI: [https://doi.org/10.54394/MSZN0513](https://doi.org/10.54394/MSZN0513) The designations employed in ILO publications and databases, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ILO concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of [its frontiers or boundaries. See:](its frontiers or boundaries. See: www.ilo.org/disclaimer)[ ](its frontiers or boundaries. See: www.ilo.org/disclaimer)[www.ilo.org/disclaime](its frontiers or boundar

FAQs

Why focus on urban refugees and host communities in Nairobi and Mombasa?

The document explains that many refugees and asylum seekers live in urban areas, where integration opportunities exist but access to decent work, business growth, and social protection remains constrained.

What is the purpose of the Market Systems Assessment (MSA)?

It assesses pathways that link livelihoods and social protection using a market-based, holistic approach, identifying how sectors can better support inclusion.

Which framework and sectors are analyzed in the study?

The assessment uses the ILO’s Approach to Inclusive Market Systems (AIMS) and examines the beauty and personal care, creative, and construction sectors in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Olivia Brown