Impact of gardening and nutrition support provided to women in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar

This report examines the impact of a home gardening and nutrition support programme led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and implemented by Concern Worldwide and SHED for pregnant and lactating women living in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Using a cluster-randomized controlled trial with 1,050 women, the study assessed whether a combined package of nutrition education, mother support groups, awareness campaigns, and practical gardening support could improve diet quality and food security among nutritionally vulnerable women living in long-term displacement.

The findings show that the programme significantly increased household garden adoption and use. Women in the intervention group were 17 percentage points more likely to have a garden, and households were far more likely to source fruits and vegetables from their own gardens, with a 57-percentage-point increase compared with the control group. Nutrition knowledge also improved markedly, and the intervention led to a significant increase in fruit consumption of around one extra serving per week. Household food insecurity fell substantially, with the study reporting a 66% reduction, showing that even very small gardens can make a meaningful contribution to food access in densely populated refugee camps.

At the same time, the study found no significant increase in vegetable consumption or in women’s overall dietary diversity. Lack of space remained the biggest constraint, although sack and rooftop gardens helped overcome some of these limitations. Women also reported wider benefits from gardening, including enjoyment, improved appearance of the home, and more social interaction. Overall, the report concludes that home gardening, when combined with nutrition education, is both feasible and beneficial in refugee camp settings, though sustained support and further research are needed to strengthen longer-term dietary outcomes.