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Economic Activities in Kakuma camp

Stäps, Malte LU (2018) EKHS42 20181
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Humanitarian organizations (HOs) are the main authority in long-term refugee camps. However, literature criticizes the economic relevance of HOs in a long-term refugee camp. My thesis applies the discussion to a case study in Kakuma camp. The study proposes two research questions: 1) To what extent does the long-term presence of HOs affect the market system and economic life of refugees in Kakuma camp? Furthermore, 2) to what extent do refugees maintain economic activities in Kakuma camp? My research answers the two research questions with a comprehensive approach through data collection from the main market actors and the market system. The case study uses a sequential explanatory mixed method, 115 interviews and secondary literature. The... (More)
Humanitarian organizations (HOs) are the main authority in long-term refugee camps. However, literature criticizes the economic relevance of HOs in a long-term refugee camp. My thesis applies the discussion to a case study in Kakuma camp. The study proposes two research questions: 1) To what extent does the long-term presence of HOs affect the market system and economic life of refugees in Kakuma camp? Furthermore, 2) to what extent do refugees maintain economic activities in Kakuma camp? My research answers the two research questions with a comprehensive approach through data collection from the main market actors and the market system. The case study uses a sequential explanatory mixed method, 115 interviews and secondary literature. The case study concludes that 1) HOs have a negative effective on the market systems and the economic life of refugees in Kakuma camp. The main argument is that HOs act as the dominant market actor, occupying the supply side of the market through free-given assets, interventions and items. On the other hand, 2) refugees maintain various economic activities through a wide trade system, entrepreneurial spirit and several businesses. Refugee economies supply the market but are in unnecessary competition with HOs. Overall, the answers to the two research questions endorse each other and support the literature on the criticism concerning the economic relevance of HOs in long-term refugee camps. (Less)
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author
Stäps, Malte LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
The Kakuma Camp Case Study
course
EKHS42 20181
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
humanitarian organization, refugee economies, market system, Kakuma camp
language
English
id
8963327
date added to LUP
2019-01-22 14:41:43
date last changed
2019-01-22 14:41:43
@misc{8963327,
  abstract     = {{Humanitarian organizations (HOs) are the main authority in long-term refugee camps. However, literature criticizes the economic relevance of HOs in a long-term refugee camp. My thesis applies the discussion to a case study in Kakuma camp. The study proposes two research questions: 1) To what extent does the long-term presence of HOs affect the market system and economic life of refugees in Kakuma camp? Furthermore, 2) to what extent do refugees maintain economic activities in Kakuma camp? My research answers the two research questions with a comprehensive approach through data collection from the main market actors and the market system. The case study uses a sequential explanatory mixed method, 115 interviews and secondary literature. The case study concludes that 1) HOs have a negative effective on the market systems and the economic life of refugees in Kakuma camp. The main argument is that HOs act as the dominant market actor, occupying the supply side of the market through free-given assets, interventions and items. On the other hand, 2) refugees maintain various economic activities through a wide trade system, entrepreneurial spirit and several businesses. Refugee economies supply the market but are in unnecessary competition with HOs. Overall, the answers to the two research questions endorse each other and support the literature on the criticism concerning the economic relevance of HOs in long-term refugee camps.}},
  author       = {{Stäps, Malte}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Economic Activities in Kakuma camp}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}