Rufus Karanja is a development and humanitarian professional with over 14 years of experience advancing solutions at the intersection of forced migration, human rights advocacy, and inclusive development across East and the Horn of Africa.

His work focuses on bridging policy and practice — translating complex displacement challenges into practical approaches that improve outcomes for refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities. Through programme leadership, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, Rufus supports the development of responses that are not only designed at policy level, but grounded in community realities, evidence, and measurable impact.

A strong advocate for meaningful participation and inclusive decision-making, Rufus champions approaches that place affected communities at the centre of conversations shaping their futures. His work reflects a belief that sustainable solutions emerge when policy expertise, operational experience, and lived realities come together.

Beyond technical expertise, Rufus is a facilitator and moderator of high-level conversations on humanitarian and development issues. He curates and leads dialogues across panels, workshops, and conferences, creating spaces where policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and communities can exchange ideas and identify pathways for collective action.

Rufus currently works with the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, where he manages humanitarian and development programmes implemented by UN agencies and international and national NGOs, supporting displaced and host communities across Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.