The role of non-state actors in refugee social protection: A case of South Sudanese women in Kiryandongo refugee settlement, Uganda.

With the current persistent global insecurities and vulnerabilities that are caused by a number of factors ranging from the economic, political and social risks, Social policy has been sought as response to these challenges through its element of social protection. To this, many governments and organisations have sought to provide social protection to vulnerable groups of people in such circumstances. Unfortunately social protection is often confined within the boundaries of states leaving the fate of non-citizens especially refugees in a state of uncertainty despite stipulated rights and protection through International bodies like UN and OAU to host states. As host states do not fully take up their responsibilities, non-state actors are seen to increasingly take on the provision roles. This study focuses on examining the role of non-state actors in providing social protection to South Sudanese women in Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda. Findings indicate success in ensuring access to services like health education and food provisions, hence enabling refugees to live. However the sustainability and accumulation to ensure transformation of women from the social- structural and economic constraints through these services is lacking and this continues to maintain the vulnerability of these women. It is thus evident that there is need to provide services in a more sustainable and accumulative to enable transforming refugee wellbeing.