Cox’s Bazar Development Forum launched to advance area-based approach in Rohingya response

Strengthening coordination for inclusive, resilient development in Cox’s Bazar

April 23, 2026

Participants at the inaugural Cox’s Bazar Development Forum discuss strengthening coordination for an area-based Rohingya response.

©UNDP Bangladesh

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), organised an inaugural meeting of the Cox’s Bazar Development Forum on 23 April 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening development coordination in the district.

The Forum brought together senior United Nations leadership, development partners, international financial institutions (IFIs), representatives from local government, and non-governmental organizations to promote a more coherent, area-based, and development-oriented approach within the Rohingya response. The initiative aligns with the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) nexus, aiming to bridge immediate humanitarian needs with long-term development solutions.

“This Forum creates an important space for collective action, bringing together partners to connect livelihoods, skills development, and local service delivery so that investments respond to real needs on the ground and benefit both host and refugee communities,” said Vardon Hoxha (Hoca), Head of Cox’s Bazar Sub Office, UNDP Bangladesh.

Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond fragmented interventions and instead adopt integrated approaches that simultaneously address humanitarian challenges, strengthen local systems, and promote social cohesion between host and refugee communities.

“The launch of the Cox’s Bazar Development Forum reflects our shared commitment to working across the Humanitarian–Development–Peace nexus in a more coordinated and evidence-driven way,” said Sonali Dayaratne, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh.

Key discussions were informed by findings from a Cox’s Bazar labour market analysis, which revealed that over 86 per cent of employment in the district remains informal, with nearly half of the workforce dependent on agriculture. The formal sector currently absorbs only 13.59 per cent of workers. The analysis also underscored significant gender disparities, noting that the female youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) rate stands at 28 per cent, pointing to the urgent need for more inclusive interventions.

Participants also reviewed insights from an ongoing analysis examining synergies between United Nations agencies and IFI engagement in Cox’s Bazar and the Moheshkhali–Mirsarai corridor since 2017, where investments of approximately USD 5 billion are planned. Discussions focused on how these large-scale investments can be better aligned with local skills development, social protection programmes, and service delivery systems.

By strengthening coordination and aligning investments with local needs, the Forum aims to ensure that development financing contributes to more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient outcomes for both host communities and Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.