Ensuring the Overall Wellbeing and Resilience of Rohingya and Host Community in a Protected Environment Where Children Can Learn and Thrive (BGD_DFAT-4 phase) Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Since the 2017 mass influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, Save the Children has provided a comprehensive humanitarian response targeting both Rohingya and host communities. The BGD AHP Rohingya Response Phase IV project (2023–2025) aims to address critical health, education, and protection needs, particularly for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities (PWD) and individuals of diverse SOGIESC backgrounds. Despite five years of humanitarian efforts, gaps persist in healthcare access, quality education, and child protection. Challenges include limited availability of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and mental health services, low adolescent girls’ participation in education, and heightened risks of child marriage, early pregnancy, and gender-based violence (GBV), especially among girls with disabilities and SOGIESC identities.

To assess the initial status of outcome indicators aligned with the project’s logframe, a baseline study was conducted in March 2024 using a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative component surveyed 1,246 respondents from various stakeholder groups including adolescents, parents/caregivers, teachers, people with disabilities (PWDs), and SOGIESC individuals. A 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error were applied in determining sample size. Complementary qualitative data were collected through 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 4 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) using purposive sampling to gather deeper insights.

Preliminary findings show low health service access among vulnerable groups, significant gender disparity in education participation, and rising child protection concerns driven by poverty and insecurity. Weak referral pathways and sociocultural barriers further hinder access to essential services. These findings underscore the urgent need for inclusive and targeted programming to ensure equitable access to health, education, and protection services for all, particularly the most at-risk subgroups within the Rohingya and host communities.