Executive summary Bangladesh hosts over 900,000 Rohingya refugees, and their displacement is likely to be protracted (Wake and Yu, 2018). Recognising the complexities and sheer scale of the challenge of refugee hosting in Cox’s Bazar, as well as other development challenges and opportunities in Bangladesh, there is a need to explore better ways to accommodate the needs of Rohingya refugees and support local communities in the medium term. Such discussions and plans must take into account the views of the Rohingya themselves. While there is good understanding of the short-term needs of Rohingya refugees and their perspectives, this does not appear to be informing planning for the medium term. This paper – based on qualitative and quantitative research with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh – provides insight into the current political and policy context, refugees’ challenges and aspirations, community engagement and what could improve refugees’ lives in the medium to long term. Political and policy context The Government of Bangladesh’s position is driven primarily by its desire to maintain national and international focus on return as the solution to the crisis, and hence on Myanmar’s responsibility to create the conditions that allow this. With traditional durable solutions not an option, at least for the time being, dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh to secure a more sustainable response to the Rohingya crisis continues. Work has begun to map the role the international community could play in supporting such a policy shift. It is important that dialogue around new approaches maximises opportunities for learning from previous efforts at international responsibility-sharing in Jordan, Lebanon and Ethiopia. It is also critical that any medium-term response in Bangladesh is grounded in an understanding of what refugees and host communities believe is most important to them. Challenges and aspirations of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh While the focus of this research was on the next 5–10 years, it is clear that, if the day-to-day challenges refugees face are not addressed, they will continue into the future. Refugees identified their immediate concerns as living conditions, lack of firewood or stoves, healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support and protection, inadequate food and insufficient supplies. Broader challenges include education, marriage and livelihoods. Their responses indicated some clear goals and aspirations, including safe return to Myanmar when conditions are in place, access to education and a better future for their children, improved living conditions and the ability and means to support themselves and their families. If they were to remain in Bangladesh, most refugees wanted to stay where they were currently living, preferring the status quo – even when it was difficult – to the uncertainty and risk of change. Improving the lives of Rohingya refugees in the medium to long term Refugees felt that their lives would first and foremost be improved through education, then better living conditions, then the ability to support themselves. Most refugees we interviewed wanted to be able to support themselves and their family through work, seeing it as a way to generate income and meet their needs, a way to be active rather than idly thinking about traumatic experiences and a way to protect against inconsistent levels of aid and concerns that aid would not continue indefinitely. While some refugees worked informally or volunteered, it is not legal for refugees to work in Bangladesh, and barriers to generating an income included lack of opportunities, limited freedom of movement and old age or injury. While the economic situation in the camps means that more women have become breadwinners and are undertaking non-traditional work, and it was evident that displacement had begun to change some minds about work and gender norms, both men and women preferred women to do home-based work. Findings from interviews indicated that, of the many refugees who did want to work, they primarily wanted to do home-based work (such as sewing), start or expand a business or work for a non-governmental organisation (NGO). These findings have implications for the type of response needed in Bangladesh: one that combines market-based opportunities, educational opportunities and vocational training. Humanitarian Policy Group 1