Dhaka:The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNICEF have successfully concluded a $5.94 million initiative aimed at providing market-driven skills and employment opportunities to out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Bangladesh.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the project, titled 'Empowering Out-of-School Adolescent Girls and Young Women with Market-Driven Occupational Skills, Transferable Skills, and Job Placements,' benefited nearly 17,000 participants aged 15-24 across seven districts from July 2022 to September 2026.
The initiative, funded by the Republic of Korea through KOICA and implemented by UNICEF alongside government agencies and local partners, sought to help marginalized young women overcome educational and economic barriers. It provided vocational training, workplace apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship support to prepare participants for wage employment or starting their own businesses.
Efforts were made to connect aspiring entrepreneurs with financial institutions to facilitate access to relevant financial services, thereby promoting economic independence. In addition to skills development, the project addressed social barriers limiting young women's participation in education and the workforce through community engagement and behavior change initiatives.
The closing ceremony in Dhaka was attended by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj. The project's completion aligns with the government's broader strategy to enhance inclusive education and economic opportunities, as demonstrated by initiatives like the Bureau of Non-Formal Education's (BNFE) Alternative Learning Opportunities (ALO) program and the SKILFO model.
This alignment is anticipated to sustain the project's achievements, providing a foundation for continued support beyond KOICA's involvement.