RDRS Bangladesh, in partnership with Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva has been implementing an emergency response programme titled “LWF-RDRS Emergency Programme (LREP)” in Rohingya camps and nearby host communities in Cox’s Bazar district since 2019. The LREP contributes to international efforts to meet the humanitarian and protection needs and increase self-reliance and resilience of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) and host communities through Income Generating Activities (IGAs), tree plantation, life-skills with livelihoods and leadership development training. LREP also works on capacity building of youth and creates market linkage to improve their living standard. This programme also aims at cultivating social cohesion, ensuring social inclusion, promoting reforestation and providing humanitarian support (i.e., foods and non-food items, WaSH, health, protection, etc.) to the FDMNs as well as the nearby host communities. During 2021-2022, around 56,295 programme participants have been benefitted through this project.
The key achievements of the projects:
Self-reliance
RDRS reached to 1,017 FDMNs from three camps (12, 18, & 2 East) under “Distribution of Livelihood Support” intervention with life-skills and leadership development training. Among them, 92 were Persons with Disabilities, 504 youths (18-35 ages), and 421 women.
Resilience
A number of 35 community consultations were held with different stakeholders in 4 upazilas of Cox’s Bazar. Community committees were formed along with the inclusion of persons with disabilities, widows, and elderly people of different ages and occupations. The committee will play a proactive role in directly engaging the entire community to ensure the sustainability of the tree plantation. A total of 68,410 locally adapted saplings (Host: 45,910, Camp: 22,500) were planted based on geographic suitability in deforested parts of the camps. In the host community, a tri-party agreement was signed amongst RDRS, Community Committee, and the respective Union Parishad. RDRS also organised 5 public campaigns on conserving forests; safeguarding water sources and tree plantation at both camps and adjacent areas. The aim was to create awareness among the community people and ensure community involvement in conserving forests and safeguarding water sources.
Reform
Two Self-help Groups were formed through the engagement of persons with disabilities in livelihood income-generating activities, the expectation is to enhance self-esteem and provide PWDs with knowledge and relevant skills to engage them in economically profitable activities. All the members of the groups were trained in relevant income-generating skills as well as leadership.
RDRS has conducted 5 community consultations with persons with disabilities and their family members regarding their rights, dignity, involving in income-generating activities, and the role of their family members. RDRS also provided psychosocial support to the Self-help Group members and their families.
Complaint and Feedback Response Mechanism (CFRM) and Accountability
RDRS has installed 15 complaint boxes in the camps and host communities. The hotline number of the organisation was shared with people. Besides, hotline number and mail address are affixed to each complaint box and also shared with the camp officials and other implementing agencies.
