Norwegian Church Aid in Bangladesh
Money spent in 2021: 11.9 million NOK
Money spent in 2021: 11.9 million NOK
Our work in Bangladesh focuses on three topics: Gender-Based Violence; Climate Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health.
According to the World Bank, Bangladesh has moved 15 million people out of poverty since 1992. The country has also made remarkable progress in increasing life expectancy, literacy rates and per capita food production. Despite this, Bangladesh faces serious challenges. 24 million people still live below the poverty line and there is a rise in Islamist extremism, challenging the traditional tolerance of diversity in the country. Bangladesh is also hosting a refugee crisis. As of 2019, there are more than 900,000 stateless Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Ukihya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar District, causing severe strain on the underdeveloped infrastructure and resources in the area.Since the start of crisis in 2017, Rohingya refugees remain almost completely dependent on assistance for basic services, living under uncertain conditions in 34 congested camps.
NCA established its presence in Bangladesh in 2017 during the peak of the Rohingya refugee influx. Since then, NCA has become a facilitator, challenger, networker and accompanier in the Bangladeshi context. In partnership with national organisations, NCA implements a humanitarian response program in the Kutupalong camps in Cox’s Bazar District. NCA’s added value is in sectoral thematic expertise and developing national partners organisations’ capacity to strengthen the impact of their programmes by developing integrated programmes. An example of this is integrating mental health and psychological support (MHPSS) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services into gender-based violence (GBV) programming.
NCA in Bangladesh provides high-quality humanitarian services which respond to the needs and gaps identified in refugee and host communities. The programme is delivered in cooperation with Bangladeshi partner organisations and focuses on:
In Bangladesh, NCA responds to the Rohingya refugee crisis by providing assistance and protection to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and people at risk, ensuring refugees’ access to WASH services, and providing life-saving reproductive health service for adolescents.
NCA in Bangladesh implements its programme in two refugee camps in Ukhiya and one camp in Teknaf. The interventions target women, girls, men and boys from the Rohingya refugee communities as well as in the host communities.
