5.2 Data collection processes in Cox's Bazar

ACAPS & IOM case study on data collection processes in Cox’s Bazar during the COVID-19 crisis

During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) in Bangladesh suspended all non-essential humanitarian activities in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on March 25th, 2020. All regular primary data collection, in particular face-to-face data collection, stopped. However, for the response to make evidence-based decisions and meet the needs of the affected population, primary data collection needed to continue.

In this context, IOM’s CwC and ACAPS have employed Rohingya refugees as researchers in place of the regular large-scale quantitative data collections in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Through this case study, both organizations share their experiences with Rohingya refugees as researchers in Cox’s Bazar, the opportunities and hurdles they came across during this process and their recommendations for future surveys using this particular data collection approach.