Refugee Governance and Burden-Sharing Arrangements in the East African Region

Background: The protracted displacement crises stemming from conflicts in South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sudan have placed sustained pressure on host countries in East Africa, prompting renewed discussion on equitable burden-sharing mechanisms under the Global Compact on Refugees adopted internationally. Aims/objectives: This study examines how regional refugee governance frameworks influence the distribution of humanitarian responsibility and resource allocation among East African host states facing overlapping displacement pressures. Method: A qualitative comparative analysis was conducted using UNHCR operational data, national refugee policy documents, and interviews with humanitarian coordinators in Uganda and Kenya carried out between 2022 and 2024. Results: Findings reveal that host states with progressive refugee policies, such as Uganda's settlement-based integration model, attracted greater international donor support but faced strain from declining global humanitarian funding amid competing international crises. Coordination gaps between national governments and international agencies often resulted in uneven service delivery across refugee-hosting regions, disproportionately affecting host community livelihoods and local infrastructure. Conclusion: The research concludes that existing burden-sharing arrangements remain heavily donor-dependent and insufficiently institutionalized at the regional level. Strengthening the African Union's role in coordinating responsibility-sharing frameworks and incentivizing predictable multi-year funding commitments is recommended to enhance the sustainability and equity of regional refugee governance across the East African bloc.

Keywords: refugee governance, burden-sharing, East Africa, forced displacement, humanitarian diplomacy