“Together We Lead: Placing Gender Equality at the Centre” is a multi-year initiative implemented by Nari Maitree with technical support from UN Women and funding from DFAT, SDC, and SIDA. The project responds to the urgent and pervasive challenges of gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBV) in both the Rohingya refugee camps and host communities of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

The Rohingya humanitarian crisis has created a protracted situation affecting over 949,000 refugees, most of whom are women and girls. These populations face elevated risks of GBV, restrictive gender norms, and limited participation in decision-making. The Together We Lead project directly addresses these challenges through a multi-dimensional and community-led approach.

At its core, the project empowers women and girls to claim leadership and agency in their communities, while also engaging men and boys in promoting gender-equitable behaviors and preventing GBV. A central strategy is the strengthening of a Gender Volunteer network—comprising 100 trained community members (60 women, 40 men)—who act as agents of change. These volunteers facilitate access to gender-responsive protection services and lead awareness efforts within their communities.

Another key component is the Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP) methodology, which fosters critical reflection among men and boys on harmful norms and promotes positive masculinities to prevent violence and create safer environments for all.

Through structured leadership development activities, the project builds self-esteem, voice, and decision-making capacity among women and adolescent girls. Female Gender Volunteers are trained to serve as mentors and facilitators within Women’s Groups, promoting a sustainable model of grassroots women’s leadership.

Community outreach—including household visits, dialogues, and events—is integrated throughout to foster inclusive engagement, behavior change, and increased awareness of available services.

The project emphasizes coordination with stakeholders such as UN Women, ISCG sectors, camp management, and community leaders to ensure alignment, impact, and sustainability. A robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework supports data-driven decision-making and accountability, while Nari Maitree’s organizational capacity is further strengthened through enhanced systems for anti-fraud, safeguarding, and data protection.

Donor: DFAT, SDC, SIDA.

Supported by: UN Women

Duration of the project: 01 April 2025 t0 31 December 2026 (As per Project Document)

Targeted Program Participants:  28,800 Rohingya and host community members.

Implementing Area:  Camp – 1E, 1W, 3, 4, 4EX, 14, 18, 25. Host – Rajapalong & Whykong.