The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNICEF on Monday marked the completion of a $5.94 million project aimed at equipping out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Bangladesh with market-driven skills and employment opportunities.
The project, titled “Empowering Out-of-School Adolescent Girls and Young Women with Market-Driven Occupational Skills, Transferable Skills, and Job Placements”, reached nearly 17,000 girls and young women aged 15-24 across seven districts between July 2022 and September 2026.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj attended the closing ceremony in Dhaka as the chief guest.
Funded by the government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with relevant government agencies and local partners, the initiative aimed to help marginalised young women overcome barriers to education and economic participation.
Through vocational and transferable skills training, workplace apprenticeships, engagement with employers and entrepreneurship support, the project helped participants prepare for wage employment or establish their own businesses.
It also linked aspiring entrepreneurs with financial institutions to access relevant financial services, supporting their efforts to achieve greater economic independence.
Beyond skills development, the initiative sought to address social barriers that often restrict young women's participation in education and economic activities.
Community engagement and social and behaviour change initiatives were undertaken to increase awareness and encourage families and local communities to support young women's education, employment and entrepreneurship.
As the project concludes, its market-oriented and employment-focused approach aligns with the government's efforts to expand inclusive learning and economic opportunities nationwide.
Government initiatives, led by the Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE), including the Alternative Learning Opportunities (ALO) programme and the expansion of the SKILFO model, reflect the country's commitment to strengthening non-formal education and skills development.
This alignment is expected to provide a basis for sustaining the project's achievements beyond KOICA's support.