Konexio Africa Wins SIARA 2025 for Transforming Refugee Lives through Digital Skills in East Africa
Konexio Africa has been named the winner of the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support (SIARA 2025), recognised for its innovative education-to-employment model that empowers refugees in East Africa—notably in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda—to overcome poverty by converting digital skills into sustainable sources of income.
The organisation stood out among 790 global nominations for its sustainable approach and significant, measurable impact in creating opportunities for refugees. By bridging the gap between education and income generation, Konexio Africa provides hands-on training in advanced digital skills, directly leading refugees to both freelance and long-term employment.
Established in 2019, Konexio Africa serves as a leading example of how digital education can transform lives, empowering refugees to build futures founded on knowledge, productivity, and dignity. Its visionary approach has helped bridge the digital divide, turning technical skills into meaningful and sustainable livelihoods.
A Pioneer in Digital Transformation for Social Good
Konexio Africa has championed the use of technology as a tool for dignity and self-reliance, moving beyond the idea of technology as a privilege reserved for profit-driven institutions. It has trained over 1,000 refugees directly across Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, with its indirect impact reaching more than 7,000 individuals.
These efforts have dramatically increased employment rates to 90 percent and boosted monthly incomes tenfold—from below one dollar a day to approximately 200 dollars a month. Notably, women account for 66 percent of participants, highlighting a commitment to gender equality and making women central to the progress of refugee communities.
Integrated Model for Empowerment
The organisation’s model combines digital training, business process outsourcing (BPO) and remote work to create real opportunities for both youth and women. It delivers in-demand digital skills that help individuals overcome legal and administrative barriers that typically limit refugees’ access to employment.
Operating modern digital centres in refugee camps, Konexio Africa uses Starlink high-speed internet and solar energy to provide reliable connectivity. The organisation offers childcare facilities so mothers can safely study and work, while a hybrid learning system lets participants access courses remotely as needed. Konexio also facilitates recruitment and job placement through its databases and corporate partnerships, and involves refugees directly in teaching and peer mentoring. Graduates are provided continued career support post-programme.
Programmes Driving Sustainable Impact
The Digital Empowerment Programme delivers practical training in core technical skills for women and youth, working in partnership with local organisations and connecting graduates to global gig platforms like Upwork and Appen for international freelance opportunities.
The Advanced Digital Skills Programme—developed in collaboration with Africa Career Networks and global firms such as TotalEnergies—enables refugees to gain professional-level technical expertise with intensive training, mentoring, and work placements in technology and renewable energy.
Linking to Global Employment
The Global Business Services Programme connects trained participants to international employers via secure digital hubs equipped with advanced infrastructure and high-speed internet. Refugees work under two-year contracts earning around 250 dollars per month, providing digital services in artificial intelligence, customer support, research, and marketing for major companies such as SEB, Teleperformance, and TotalEnergies.
Alya Al Musaiebi, Director of The Big Heart Foundation, said, “The Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support was created to guide humanitarian work towards lasting outcomes. It prioritises dignity, self-reliance, sustainable development and economic participation. We recognise scalable and locally rooted models that can create positive system-level change. We support these initiatives through partnerships and resources that help them grow. This year, Konexio Africa reflects this vision. By empowering refugees to learn digital skills and viewing them as capable talents instead of aid recipients, the organisation has provided a clear pathway from support to success.”
She added, “Through SIARA, The Big Heart Foundation sends a message to donors and policymakers. We encourage investment in solutions that build capabilities, strengthen markets and make communities more resilient in the long run.”
As part of the award, Konexio Africa will receive AED500,000 (US$136,000) to expand its operations and extend its impact to even more vulnerable communities.
SIARA promotes practical humanitarian solutions that have been proven to work, with a special focus on digital skills as a powerful means of refugee empowerment. The award underscores that investment in education, skills, and economic participation is essential for building dignified and sustainable futures for displaced people.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
