Improving Skills and Economic Opportunities for the Bangladeshi Community and Rohingya Women & Youths in Cox’s Bazar

Executive Summary The project aims at the economic empowerment of the Bangladeshi host community and the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar district as well as Bhasan Char of Bangladesh through gender sensitive market relevant skills development linked to (a) to self-reliance activities in the camps (Project component 1) and (b) employment and self-employment in growth sectors for the host communities (project component 2). The project promotes peace (a) by creating meaningful economic opportunities and preventing idleness and involvement in social conflict, (b) by emphasizing space for dialogue and interaction between communities, (c) by implementing transparent and fair selection criteria, and systematic grievance mechanisms. The project adopts a leaving no one behind strategy by identifying challenges all persons - particularly women, youth, ethnic and religious minorities, persons with disabilities - are facing to access and benefit equally from the services; adopting targeted measures to tackle them; and involving beneficiaries in the design, implementation and review of interventions. Women will be the core group targeted by the project, with no less than 40% overall beneficiaries. Specific campaigns for their participation, especially in non-traditional sectors and occupations, systematic adaptation of services to allow them to participate and benefit equally from them, close monitoring of their involvement and benefit at every step of the way. This project will involve multi-level stakeholders relevant to the skills development and employment generation in the target areas, hence creating a sustainable ecosystem for women to utilize their potentials through the project. The two distinct components for the Rohingya and Bangladeshi communities will address underlying challenges and economic vulnerabilities of the ultimate project beneficiaries through direct services, but also strengthen capacities for replication and upscaling of the approach in a sustainable manner. The project promotes the employability of the host communities through market-driven interventions to strengthen institutions and systems in targeted sectors; i.e. (a) business development services; (b) competency-based skills training, apprenticeship, and recognition of prior learning; (c) improved labour market governance and intermediation. The project promotes the economic resilience of the refugees in the camps in Cox’s Bazar as well as Bhasan Char and upon their eventual return through pre-vocational, vocational and advanced skills development and education, and their involvement in self-reliance activities. The project is built on an alliance of ILO, UNHCR and BRAC that will combine their expertise and experiences in refugee protection, skills development, employment and self-employment for efficient results, while at the same time taking a lead role for the harmonisation of practices in these fields as part of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis.

Project symbol

BGD/21/02/CAN

Admin unit

CO-Dhaka

Start date

25/03/2022

End date

31/12/2025

Total allocation

13032899

Total expenditure

Status

Active

10537528

Development Partners

Canada, Global Affairs Canada

Country/Countries

Bangladesh

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Full and productive employment for just transitions