Kakuma Ventures is among one of twelve outstanding organisations delivering innovative climate solutions that have reached the finals of the prestigious 2022 Ashden Awards – a line-up announced at the closing ceremony of the international London Climate Action Week conference Yesterday.  

203 organisations applied for the 2022 Ashden Awards, and Kakuma Ventures is one of just two finalists in the category of Energising Refugee Livelihoods after a rigorous assessment and judging process involving on-the-ground visits and input from sector experts.

Award winners will be announced in late October just before the world climate conference COP27.  

Kakuma Ventures is a social enterprise in the Kakuma refugee camp that exists to enable emerging markets to excel in a globalized economy so that refugees and members of the host community and other underserved populations have access to digital opportunities in education, employment, and business. We have connected to the Internet more than 1400 people in the camp, among them students, freelancers, and entrepreneurs representing less than a percentage of the camp’s population. 

Innocent, co-founder and Managing Director of Kakuma Ventures, said: “Reaching the Ashden Award finals means everything I aspired to see as an entrepreneur running a business that serves the displaced. This proves to the world how the resilience of refugees through our innovative approaches is a valid solution to solving the complex problems that affect 100 million displaced people around the world.”

Ashden, a UK charity, has been spotlighting transformative climate solutions for more than 20 years through their prestigious Awards scheme. 

Harriet Lamb, CEO of Ashden, said: “We are at such an urgent moment in history that world-leading climate solutions are needed in every sector and every business. Through the Ashden Awards we highlight innovative businesses, social enterprises and non-governmental organisations showcasing the most effective and holistic solutions”.  

“Our rigorous awards research underscores the need for more support for green jobs, skills and livelihoods. These inspiring finalists, selected for their achievements and innovations, show how a low carbon future can also be a fairer one.” 

Through the work of Kakuma ventures and as digital transformation shapes the future, more and more people in the camp are seizing digital opportunities to transform their lives and prepare for their future beyond the refugee camp by learning new skills and discovering new markets and industries for employment and business.