A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning Management and Innovation

Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026

Protracted displacement has become a defining humanitarian and development challenge, as increasing numbers of refugees remain in camp settings for decades. Drawing on the sustainable livelihoods approach and the capability approach, this study examines livelihood vulnerability among Myanmar refugees in Mae La Camp, Thailand, focusing on how everyday livelihood conditions are shaped, how mobility restrictions and institutional factors affect access to economic opportunities, and how governance arrangements influence refugee participation in livelihood-related decision-making. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining household survey data with in-depth interviews and key informant interviews to capture both patterns and lived experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to profile livelihood conditions, and inferential techniques, including chi-square tests to examine associations between socio-economic factors and livelihood outcomes, as well as multivariable regression models to identify key determinants of livelihood security and aid dependence, while qualitative evidence was interpreted through conventional content analysis. The findings reveal interconnected livelihood vulnerabilities shaped by restricted mobility, limited access to formal labor markets, and declining humanitarian assistance. Consistent with scholarship on refugee encampment (World Bank, 2023), mobility restrictions emerge as a central constraint, limiting access to economic opportunities beyond the camp while simultaneously constraining opportunities within it. These conditions confine most households to informal and low-return activities, reinforcing reliance on short-term coping strategies. The study conceptualizes this condition as enforced immobility and constrained conversion, where refugees remain physically present yet structurally restricted from transforming their capabilities into meaningful livelihood outcomes (Sen, 1999). Across time, present livelihood pressures are rooted in past experiences of prolonged encampment and regulatory control, while future aspirations for mobility, dignified work, and self-reliance remain constrained. Refugee voice remains limited, yet the findings suggest it is urgent to enhance their role in shaping decisions affecting their livelihoods. This study argues that livelihood vulnerability is structurally produced and requires feasible policy responses that expand mobility, improve labor access, and strengthen participatory governance.