Baseline Study of Project for Enhancement of Protection Mechanism and Community Resilience Against Gender-based Violence (GBV) at Refugee Camp and Host Community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Baseline Study of

"Project for Enhancement of Protection Mechanism and Community Resilience Against Gender-based Violence (GBV) at Refugee Camp and Host Community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh"

Approximately one million Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh, residing in extremely precarious conditions across 34 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas, Cox's Bazar. These refugees, including women and children, have endured domestic violence, sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), and trafficking. Among them, around 543,000 refugees require assistance specifically related to GBV, along with approximately 147,000 individuals in host communities (JRP, 2022). Various NGOs, INGOs, and the United Nations have provided material aid and emotional support to address the suffering and abuse experienced by women and young girls. However, the current support for women and adolescent girls at risk of GBV remains inadequate in ensuring their safety.

World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) is among the organizations that have implemented projects aimed at enhancing community capacity to prevent and respond to GBV among the refugees residing in the camps. Specifically, WVB designed a project to provide GBV support services in Camp19 and the associated host community in Cox's Bazar, with the goal of reducing GBV risks for women and adolescent girls. The implementation of this project has led to an increase in community-based GBV prevention and response efforts and improved access to various forms of support in both the refugee camp and host community.

To assess the current state of knowledge and practices regarding GBV risk mitigation, prevention, and response, particularly among project participants and non-participants, as well as the cascading community level, WVB the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has been awarded by WVB to conduct a baseline study. Dr. Md Mokhlesur Rahman, the lead consultant and CEO of CRD, is leading the evaluation team.

Approximately one million Rohingya refugees fled to Bangladesh, residing in extremely precarious conditions across 34 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas, Cox's Bazar. These refugees, including women and children, have endured domestic violence, sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), and trafficking. Among them, around 543,000 refugees require assistance specifically related to GBV, along with approximately 147,000 individuals in host communities (JRP, 2022). Various NGOs, INGOs, and the United Nations have provided material aid and emotional support to address the suffering and abuse experienced by women and young girls. However, the current support for women and adolescent girls at risk of GBV remains inadequate in ensuring their safety.

World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) is among the organizations that have implemented projects aimed at enhancing community capacity to prevent and respond to GBV among the refugees residing in the camps. Specifically, WVB designed a project to provide GBV support services in Camp19 and the associated host community in Cox's Bazar, with the goal of reducing GBV risks for women and adolescent girls. The implementation of this project has led to an increase in community-based GBV prevention and response efforts and improved access to various forms of support in both the refugee camp and host community.

To assess the current state of knowledge and practices regarding GBV risk mitigation, prevention, and response, particularly among project participants and non-participants, as well as the cascading community level, WVB the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has been awarded by WVB to conduct a baseline study. Dr. Md Mokhlesur Rahman, the lead consultant and CEO of CRD, is leading the evaluation team.