International Development Grant

Sustainable development objectives: local implementation by and for local stakeholders

Project Number: CA-3-P010740001

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

Bangladesh 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $10,000,000.00

Start Date: March 31, 2022

End Date: September 23, 2025

Duration: 3.5 years

Project Description

This project aims to strengthen local organizations to respond to locally-identified development priorities in Cox’s Bazar district (CXB). Project activities include: (1) implementing 108 small-scale infrastructure projects in 18 selected unions; (2) establishing seed funds for the creation of pooled financial resources to support local organizations and small-scale entrepreneurship; (3) strengthening coordination mechanisms for development-driven interventions in local communities. This involves assisting 10 participating local organizations in building key transferable skills; (4) improving camp-based community representative structures linked to the larger humanitarian service delivery and to community-based protection; and (5) recruiting and training identified Rohingya researchers in data collection analysis and reporting. The project targets 5 300 direct beneficiaries from host communities through infrastructure employment and livelihood diversification and indirectly benefits up to 1 818 222 host community members through expected economic spinoffs. It also targets directly 26 870 Rohingya refugees and indirectly benefits 210 000 Rohingya refugees through strengthening camp-based representative structures and skills building to help reduce vulnerabilities.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved gender-responsive community-based development and small-scale infrastructure projects such as street lighting maintaining dams to reduce soil erosion and rehabilitating bridges and roads for access to local markets and institutions (including healthcare facilities and schools in communities in Cox’s Bazar); (2) strengthened coordination mechanisms dedicated to development-driven interventions in local communities in Cox’s Bazar. This involves assisting 10 participating local non-governmental organizations in building sexual and gender-based violence pertinent skills; and (3) improved localized camp-based and representative community structures that are linked to the larger humanitarian service delivery and to community-based protection.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of December 2023 include: (1) provided 913 beneficiaries (817 women and 96 men) with business start-up funds and in-kind support to individuals with existing skills but without the equipment and resources to expand their business activities; (2) provided trade-based skills training to 1 350 micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) focusing on livestock tailoring and vegetable production; (3) the project trained 54 MSME leaders on leadership to enhance their effectiveness in building sustainable livelihoods; (4) employed local community members through cash for work achieving 4 716 labour days on 28 small infrastructure projects; (5) established the Development Unit in the Inter-Sector Coordination Group the humanitarian coordination mechanism for the Rohingya response in Bangladesh to help advance the humanitarian-development nexus; (6) conducted 3 000 block committee meetings with camp-based committee groups in 11 camps to promote inclusive engagement accountability and community empowerment (120 women-only committee meetings and 2 880 youth committee meetings); (7) completed 23 micro-community projects including the creation of a Rohingya-Burmese-English dictionary and a community library among other achievements; and (8) trained 270 women’s groups on women’s leadership prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and core concepts on how to prevent gender-based violence.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
IOM – International Organization for Migration

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Vocational training 55%
Civilian peace-building conflict prevention and resolution 45%

Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 1 Participatory development and good governance
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2021-04-01 to 2022-03-31 $10,000,000 CAD
Geographic Information
300
Project Number: CA-3-P010740001