Kenya Advances Development of National Policy for the UNESCO Qualifications Passport

Kenya is taking a major step toward expanding access to education, training, and employment for refugees and forcibly displaced persons through the development of a National Policy Framework for mainstreaming the UNESCO Qualifications Passport (UQP). This initiative is being spearheaded jointly by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and UNESCO, building on several years of consultations, awareness forums, and technical capacity-building on UQP processes.

The UQP offers an essential mechanism for the fair evaluation of qualifications for refugees and forcibly displaced persons, including in cases where individuals are unable to present full documentation. With Kenya hosting a significant refugee population, integrating the UQP into the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF) will strengthen pathways to education, skills development, and employment for displaced learners, supporting their transition into productive livelihoods.

To advance this work, KNQA and UNESCO are convening a policy drafting workshop from 25–28 November 2025 at the Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind. The workshop brings together key institutions, including representatives from CUE, TVETA, NITA, SDTVET, SDHE, SDBE, DRS, IRC, UNHCR, KNATCOM, and other partners. Participants are reviewing progress made to date, drafting policy chapters, and outlining a national implementation roadmap for UQP integration.

This initiative further positions Kenya as a regional leader in championing fair, transparent, and humane recognition of learning for refugees and displaced individuals. By institutionalising the UQP, Kenya reaffirms its commitment to educational rights, enhanced learner mobility, and the dignity of all persons.

As part of the engagement, the delegation also planted a commemorative tree at the institution, symbolizing KNQA’s sustained commitment to environmental stewardship and national greening efforts.