Call for Expression of Interest (EoI) – Partnership

HEKS/EPER is a Swiss development and humanitarian aid organization that supports projects addressing hunger, poverty, and injustice in 31 countries across four continents. The organization also provides emergency assistance to people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts worldwide and supports welfare and social initiatives in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In Switzerland, it advocates for the rights and integration of refugees and socially disadvantaged people. HEKS/EPER is a member of both the ACT Alliance and the CHS Alliance and has been active in Bangladesh since 1975, where it is registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau. Its development cooperation primarily focuses on projects in Northern Bangladesh, while humanitarian interventions in the Rohingya response are managed directly through the Humanitarian Aid Office in Cox’s Bazar.

Bangladesh continues to face a complex humanitarian and development context shaped by political transition, economic pressure, climate shocks, and protracted displacement. Cox’s Bazar continues to host approximately 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in densely populated camps exposed to fires, floods, cyclones, and landslides. At the same time, host communities are experiencing increasing socio-economic pressures. Climate change further intensifies these risks, particularly for vulnerable and remote communities.

Within this context, HEKS/EPER’s Humanitarian Aid Programme focuses on improving safe and dignified living conditions, strengthening resilience, and supporting emergency preparedness among Rohingya refugees and host communities. In the Rohingya response, HEKS/EPER implements Shelter and Non-Food Item (SNFI) interventions in Camps 14, 15, and 16 as a Shelter Focal Agency, in close coordination with the SCCCM sector and Area of Responsibility (AoR) partners, ensuring timely and needs-based humanitarian assistance. HEKS/EPER is also an active member of the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) under the SCCCM sector. Shelter interventions mainly focus on regular shelter upgrading and maintenance, emergency shelter support following disasters, NFI assistance, and household-level site improvement activities aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience. HEKS/EPER is also piloting Temporary Safer Shelters (TSS) to promote safer and more sustainable shelter solutions.

HEKS/EPER actively follows the recommended ratio between Rohingya refugees and host communities in its programming. In host communities, HEKS/EPER implements WASH programmes aimed at improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. HEKS/EPER has supported 69 healthcare facilities and 36 registered schools in Ukhiya, Ramu and Eidgaon upazilas in collaboration with government authorities. Interventions have included infrastructure improvements, water quality monitoring, development of medical waste management systems, and training of healthcare providers to improve service quality and patient safety. Through WASH in Schools initiatives, HEKS/EPER successfully established girls’ spaces and installed menstrual hygiene management (MHM) vending machines in four schools as pilot initiatives. From 2026 onwards, HEKS/EPER plans to further expand community-based WASH programming.

In addition to regular shelter and WASH interventions in Cox’s Bazar, HEKS/EPER also responds to rapid-onset emergencies such as cyclones, floods, and landslides. For example, through the Flood Emergency Response in Bangladesh (FERB) project, HEKS/EPER supported 4,397 individuals affected by flooding in the Khagrachari district between August and September 2024-2025.

HEKS/EPER recognizes that communities and local organizations should be at the forefront of responding to the needs of Rohingya refugees and host communities. To advance the localization agenda, HEKS/EPER aims to strengthen the leadership, capacity, and meaningful participation of local and national actors in the humanitarian response. Therefore, HEKS/EPER is exploring potential partnerships with local and national organizations. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and investment in local systems and leadership, HEKS/EPER aims to foster a more effective, resilient, and locally led humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar.

As part of this localization process, HEKS/EPER seeks to identify suitable partners that demonstrate strong legal standing and compliance, sound organizational and financial management systems, and proven experience in key humanitarian sectors, including shelter, WASH, livelihoods, food security, DRR, rapid emergency response, and disability inclusion. Organizations should also demonstrate strong community acceptance, operational presence in Rohingya camps and host communities, commitment to humanitarian principles and safeguarding standards, and the capacity to deliver timely, accountable, and inclusive assistance.

Please note that this EoI is part of a partner identification process only and does not constitute a commitment for funding or partnership.

Women-led organizations are encouraged to participate in the EoI.

Eligibility Criteria
Interested organizations are requested to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI). The primary eligibility criteria are:

• Local/National NGOs Preferably originated in Cox’s Bazar district and legally registered with the appropriate authorities.
• NGOs registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau, Bangladesh.
• NGOs with an active presence in the Rohingya camps.
• Organizations with operational offices in Cox’s Bazar and ongoing activities in both Rohingya camps and for the host communities in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.
• Organizations with an active Management Board.
• Demonstrated experience in humanitarian programming, particularly in Shelter, WASH, Livelihoods, Food Security, DRR, rapid emergency response, and disability inclusion.
• Experience of collaborating with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and other community-based structures to ensure accessibility, meaningful participation, social inclusion, and protection of persons with disabilities.
• Previous partnership experience with international NGOs, UN agencies, demonstrated compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and humanitarian standards.
• Previous experience in implementing large budgets with strict adherence on most donors’ rules and regulation.
• Regular annual financial audits and sound financial management systems.

Required Documents
Eligible NGOs are requested to submit the following documents along with their EoI:

• Cover letter expressing organizational interest in partnership.
• Registration certificates (District Authorities and NGO Affairs Bureau).
• Address and contact details of the main office and sub-offices.
• List of Management Board members with brief profiles.
• Organizational organograms.
• List of Senior Management Team members with brief profiles.
• Annual audit reports for the last three years.
• List of current and recent projects (last two years), including donors and brief descriptions of activities.
• Organizational capability statement (maximum of two pages).
• Self-declaration confirming non-association with party politics, extremism, or terrorism.
• Links of organizational websites and social media platforms.
• List of organizational policies and procedures currently in place and practiced.
• Description of the organization’s accountability and complaints mechanisms.
• Certificates from Camp in Charge (CiC) and UNO of Ukhiya or Teknaf about the organizational presence and engagement in specific sectors in the camp and in the mentioned upazilas.

HEKS/EPER will evaluate and shortlist potential partners based on the submitted documents and the eligibility criteria outlined above. Final selection will be made following organizational assessments and field visits to shortlisted organizations. HEKS/EPER reserves the right to accept or reject any application and to cancel this EoI process at any stage.

Submission Instructions

1. The Expression of Interest, along with all required attachments, should be submitted via e-mail to: Biplob Anthony Gomes (biplob.gomes@heks-eper.org)
2. The deadline for submission is 16 June 2026 at 23:59 hrs.
3. The forwarding letter must be signed, stamped, and dated.
4. All documents must be submitted in PDF format.
5. Please use the naming format:
   “Organization name_EoI_Partnership_2026”
   If multiple files or folders are submitted, use serial numbers such as:
   “Organization name_EoI_Partnership_2026_1, 2, 3…”
6. Each file or folder must not exceed 25 MB in size.