| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT
The nature of aid issued to refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR, Humanitarian and other development agencies has over time changed and evolved and livelihoods were the main point of departure (UNHCR, 2006). The objectives of this study were to determine, access and establish the different social, economic and institutional factors that affect refugee livelihoods in Rwamwanja refugee settlement. 382 respondents were interviewed and they were selected through systematic random sampling. The research unearthed several livelihoods ventures that had been taken by the refugees settled in Rwamwanja and they included among others, crop production, receiving assistance from NGO‟s, working for wages or salaries, setting up retail shop business‟, tailoring, animal and bird production. However crop production was the commonest and most popular livelihood venture taken on by majority of refugees in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement. Social factors that were found to greatly influence refugee livelihoods included ones membership in a social group which acted as a social net in cases of eventualities and mishaps. Refugee livelihoods were also found to be greatly influenced by economic factors especially the availability of physical assets such as land, access to roads and transportation means among others. Processes, institutions and organisations also played a key role in the self-reliance status of refugees in the settlement. It is recommended that further research should be conducted so as to close the present gap in knowledge as in regard to refugee livelihoods. In addition to that development partners should carry out thorough baseline assessments before running livelihood projects in the settlement so as to enable them run and strengthen the already existing structures and systems already in place. Development partners are also advised to work hand in hand to avoid duplication of work and running parallel programs that have little or no impact on the economic lives of refugees. | en_US |
