Deadline: 04-Sep-2025
The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a call for expressions of interest for its Nutrition Programme targeting the Rohingya refugee population and local communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, Bangladesh, with implementation set to begin in January 2026.
Food Security: Cash assistance, Food assistance. Health: Health – general. Nutrition: Infant and young child feeding, Malnutrition prevention and treatment, Nutrition – general.
Since the 2017 influx of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar, Cox’s Bazar has become the center of one of the world’s most pressing refugee crises. As of April 2025, over 1.1 million Rohingya have been registered, with continued arrivals due to conflict in Rakhine State. These refugees live in overcrowded camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas and on Bhasan Char island, straining local infrastructure and services and worsening vulnerabilities, especially for women and children.
The crisis has led to alarming nutrition statistics. Global Acute Malnutrition rates in the camps remain above emergency thresholds, with stunting and anaemia widespread. Malnutrition rates have risen in early 2025, particularly among children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition. Suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices further exacerbate the issue, alongside poor sanitation, water access, and food diversity. Meanwhile, host communities also suffer from high rates of malnutrition and stunting, as indicated by the 2023 SMART survey.
In response, WFP operates 47 Integrated Nutrition Facilities for Rohingya populations and 132 government-linked nutrition centers for host communities under its Improving Maternal and Child Nutrition Programme. These initiatives aim to improve nutritional outcomes through both direct support and capacity building.
Interested organizations are invited to submit their proposals by September 4, 2025. Selected partners will be notified by November 30, with projects to run throughout 2026. The proposals will be evaluated on criteria including cost-effectiveness, relevance, gender and protection mainstreaming, local experience, and alignment with expected results.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
