Sarwar Azam Manik, Cox’s Bazar
Local and national NGOs have raised concerns over inadequate localisation in the Rohingya response, demanding direct funding and meaningful participation. They also questioned the funding of one local NGO through 34 projects.
The concerns were raised at a seminar titled ‘Beyond Grand Bargain 2026: Local Perspectives’ in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday. The COAST Foundation, BDCSO Process and Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum jointly organised the event, moderated by the forum’s General Secretary, Md Jahangir Alam. Md Iqbal Uddin of the COAST Foundation presented the keynote paper.
Adopted at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in May 2016, the Grand Bargain commitment aims to strengthen local and national organisations’ participation, ensure equitable partnerships and flexible funding, and improve accountability to affected people.
Presenting the keynote paper, Md Iqbal Uddin said UN agencies led all eight major sectors of the Rohingya response in Cox’s Bazar, with an international NGO serving as co-lead in only one. No national or local NGO led any sector.
He said UN agencies received 87.96 per cent of the funding under the 2026 Joint Response Plan, international NGOs 7.78 per cent and national NGOs 4.26 per cent, while local NGOs received no direct funding.
M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of the COAST Foundation, said several international organisations were funding a particular local NGO through 34 projects in the name of direct funding. He also questioned the funding of a home-grown organisation operating internationally but receiving funds as a national NGO, saying such arrangements deprived other local NGOs of direct funding opportunities.
Igor Chiobanu, head of the Rohingya Coordination Platform, said efforts would be made to increase funding for local NGOs in the coming years and remove barriers through collective action.
Nilima Akhtar, executive director of Agrajatra, questioned how localisation could be ensured when no local NGO was directly involved in the current Joint Response Plan. She demanded direct funding for women-led organisations.
Corinne Bali, coordinator of the Cox’s Bazar NGO Platform, pledged to work with UN agencies and international NGOs to strengthen locally led response activities.
Abul Kashem, executive director of Help Cox’s Bazar, called for collective local NGO participation in preparing the upcoming response framework.
Mujibur Rahman, adviser to Shushilan, demanded the transfer of power to local NGOs and direct, flexible allocation of 50 per cent of total funding to them.
Shiuli Sharma, executive director of JNUS, stressed the need for safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas.
Others who spoke included Nurul Amin Siddiqui of ZUZUP, Syeda Dulari Iqbal of GNBKS, Mahbub Alam of FALSC Bangladesh, Shapna Mag of Aid Cumilla, Ramzan Ali Shikder of AJS Cox’s Bazar, Nasima Akhtar of Youth Forum Cox’s Bazar, Mostafizur Rahman Kajol of HFRF, Joynawal Abedin of YPSA, Anisul Islam of DEPECO, Mohammad Ali of Step for Humanity, Anjuman Ara Begum of the Rokeya Foundation, Amir Hossain of the NGO Platform, Md Afzal Hossain of Brahmanbaria TTC and Mohammad Max of SBSKS.
The speakers said localisation must translate into meaningful participation in funding, decision-making, leadership and coordination, calling for a joint action plan involving UN agencies, international NGOs, donors and local organisations. #EK
