There are over 154 000 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, more than 53 000 of whom are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

How do these refugees strive to survive in Malaysia, where they do not have the right to work, have little hope of long-term integration and government and non-government support services are limited?

This study explores Rohingya refugees’ livelihoods strategies from the refugees’ own perspectives, to understand how they provide for their families, navigate complicated international and national systems and pursue their goals for the future.

In doing so, such a study hopes to improve understanding of refugees’ perspectives and priorities to inform policy makers and practitioners responding to refugees in Malaysia and - together with case studies in Cameroon, Turkey and Jordan - around the world.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute