Representatives of local non-governmental organisations and community-based groups on Wednesday called for greater participation, leadership, and funding allocation for local actors in the Rohingya humanitarian response, arguing that they continue to receive limited recognition despite their frontline role since the onset of the crisis.
The demand was made at a press conference organised by the COAST Foundation at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club.
The event was chaired by COAST Foundation executive director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and moderated by assistant director Jahangir Alam. Representatives of civil society organisations, journalists, and local stakeholders attended the discussion.
Speakers said local organisations had been playing a vital role in humanitarian operations since the mass influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh in August 2017. Although local groups were among the first responders during the early stages of the crisis, they have yet to receive meaningful participation in decision-making processes and resource allocation, they added.
According to the speakers, local organisations are currently working as implementing partners of international agencies in providing humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas living in camps in Cox’s Bazar. Despite possessing extensive knowledge of local realities, culture, and the needs of both refugees and host communities, they remain underrepresented in planning and policy-making forums.
They alleged that local organisations have been allocated only 5 per cent of the funding under the 2025 Joint Response Plan (JRP), a figure they described as inconsistent with global localisation commitments and international humanitarian principles.
The speakers noted that international frameworks encourage greater funding and decision-making authority for local actors. However, in practice, local organisations continue to face significant barriers in accessing resources and leadership opportunities, they said.
They also highlighted that the impact of the Rohingya crisis extends beyond the refugee camps, affecting host communities through environmental degradation, deforestation, shrinking agricultural land, livelihood challenges, and growing social pressures.
Given these realities, they stressed the need for increased funding and stronger institutional support for local organisations as well as greater investment in host communities.
The speakers urged humanitarian agencies and donors to recognise local organisations not merely as project implementers but as strategic partners in leadership and decision-making processes.
They emphasised that strengthening local leadership would be essential to ensuring a more effective, sustainable, and inclusive response to the protracted Rohingya crisis.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
