The unexpected exodus of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar has caused damage on the social, economic, and political fabric of Bangladeshi host communities in Cox's Bazar. While the initial reaction to the influx was one of empathy, increased competition for jobs and public services, as well as, environmental degradation has worn host communities' patience to breaking point.
Aiming to fulfill the entrepreneurship aspirations of young entrepreneurs in Cox’s Bazar, USAID’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Support (YES) Activity comprised of Relief International, mPower Social, CCDB and YPSA organized “Youth Start-up Competition 2022” on 31st October, 2022. Among hundreds of entries from Cox's Bazar, 10 best business ideas were presented during the competition from which the three best entrepreneurs were selected as winners.
USAID's YES Activity is working in 4 sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar to foster social cohesion and build peace among the youths of the host community in Cox's Bazar by providing technical and vocational skills in a gender-responsive conflict sensitive approach adhering to Do No Harm principles; and to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, government agencies, and private sector actors to become more socially and economically resilient by addressing the socio-economic causes of conflict between host and Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) communities.
