Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment for Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh currently hosts nearly one million Rohingya refugees in one of the world’s largest protracted displacement crises, concentrated primarily in Cox’s Bazar and parts of Bandarban. This Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) was conducted by Save the Children between late 2024 and early 2025, covering both refugee and host communities. The study aimed to identify needs and service gaps in key sectors including Child Protection, Education, Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter, and Accountability. A mixed-methods approach was used, involving 1,809 household surveys, 20 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and 20 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs).

Findings highlight widespread needs and systemic gaps. Child protection issues such as child labor, early marriage, and lack of reporting mechanisms are prevalent, especially in the host and hill tract communities. Education outcomes are low, with significant gaps in numeracy skills and limited inclusion for children with disabilities. Health services are underutilized, especially reproductive and mental health services, and access to nutrition support remains inconsistent. Livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and youth, are limited, and food insecurity persists despite high food consumption scores. WASH facilities remain inadequate, with poor infrastructure for menstrual hygiene and waste management. Shelter conditions lack safety and resilience, especially in hilly and coastal areas. Accountability mechanisms are weak, with low satisfaction in service delivery and limited knowledge of entitlements.

The findings emphasize the need for integrated, multi-sectoral responses tailored to local contexts, especially focusing on vulnerable groups such as children, women, and people with disabilities. This study provides critical evidence to inform future humanitarian and development programming by Save the Children and its partners, ensuring more effective, equitable, and accountable service delivery to both refugee and host communities in Bangladesh’s border districts.