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Promoting Gender Responsive Enterprise and Skills Development Systems (ProGRESS): Feminizing Bangladesh’s Skills and Enterprise Systems and Labour Market - Midterm evaluation

eval_number:

3337

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3337

location:

country:

Bangladesh

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

Promoting Gender Responsive Enterprise and Skills Development Systems (ProGRESS): Feminizing Bangladesh’s Skills and Enterprise Systems and Labour Market - Midterm evaluation

recommendations:

date:

2026-05-24 00:00:00.0

themes:

theme:

Organizational issues

category:

Programme implementation

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comments:

Certain actions/responses are continuing.

action_plan:

As approved by the government, from the inception the project stakeholders have prioritized four (4) sectors for its skilling and job creation measures, e.g. Agro-processing, Care Work, ICT Services and Tourism. To prevent the dispersion of resources and deepen the impact of project results, the project will focus its programming replicating community-based tourism and skilling and job creation in agro-processing e.g. cashew and other agri-products, strengthening farmers and women’s cooperatives building on and in close alliance with UNDP and other GAC- supported projects; following MSD approach for value chain development. Skilling and job creation for indigenous communities and where they are needed, these sectors will provide maximum access for these vulnerable groups. Criteria for selection of sub-sectors considering market viability, equity, GESI, sustainability and other criteria will be developed. Moreover, following ILO’s CBTree modality (Community Based Training for Rural Economic Empowerment, the interventions will be community based and people oriented. The skills development modalities whether formal or informal, center-based or work based learning, will be adjusted according to the context of the target groups and criteria will be developed. In summary, the project will implement this recommendation through the following four strategic pillars: 1. Evidence-Based Sectoral Targeting The project will concentrate resources on high-growth sectors that align with resources and opportunities in the CHT and other target areas, linked with 180-day agenda of the new government of Bangladesh, National Skills Development Policy and the Government of Bangladesh’s 5-year TVET Implementation Plan. Priority will be given to: • Industrial Manufacturing: Focused on urban hubs like Chattogram to leverage private sector demand – for the expanding the systems for Industrial Attachment and Skills Matching System. • Agro-processing & Cashew Value Chains: Focused on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to support marginalized ethnic communities. • Sustainable & Community-Based Tourism: Focused on CHT and Jaflong to create eco-friendly, resilient livelihoods. 2. GESI-Responsive Sector Selection The project will utilize a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) lens to identify "welcoming" sectors. This involves selecting industries that not only show economic growth but also demonstrate a high potential for removing structural barriers for women, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged groups. 3. Defined Training Modality Selection To increase relevance, the project will implement a "Decision Logic" for training delivery based on the formality of the sector: Formal Sectors: Utilization of standardized, NTVQF-aligned Competency-Based Training (CBT) for sectors with established occupational standards and formal career pathways. Informal & Emerging Sectors: Utilization of flexible Work-Based Learning (WBL), apprenticeships, and the ILO’s GET Ahead modules for entrepreneurship, where formal structures are still developing. 4. Systems Integration and Private Sector Engagement ProGRESS will strengthen its role as a "systems catalyst" by deploying ILO tools such as Skills Matching System, Employment Support System, and Market Systems Development (MSD). This will ensure that interventions are not just service-delivery focused but are designed for scalability and co-investment with private sector employers, ensuring long-term sustainability.

management_response:

Completed

progress:

Partially achieved

admin_units:

CO-Dhaka

title:

The project should consider adopting a more strategically focused approach to sectoral engagement, building on evidence and lessons learned, to ensure greater alignment with labor market demand and national development priorities. At present, interventions span a wide range of sectors, but without clear prioritization, there is a risk of dispersing resources and limiting the depth of results. A sharper focus, grounded in existing evidence, would enable the project to concentrate its efforts on those sectors most likely to generate sustainable employment opportunities, particularly in the medium to long term. Evidence-based sectoral targeting would also help ensure greater alignment with labor market demand and national development priorities. In defining this focus, attention should be given to sectors that are more accessible and welcoming to women, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups. By prioritizing inclusive sectors, the project can play a critical role in advancing equity and empowerment, while also addressing structural barriers to decent work. Furthermore, identifying sectors with high growth potential can create pathways for large-scale employment generation and foster stronger engagement with private sector employers. Another important consideration is the type of training and support provided within these sectors. The project should establish clear criteria for when standardized, competency-based training is most appropriate—such as in sectors with established occupational standards and formal career pathways—versus when more flexible approaches, such as informal training, apprenticeships, or entrepreneurship support, may yield better outcomes. Tailoring the training modality to the specific characteristics of each sector and target group will increase both relevance and impact. Finally, sectoral prioritization should be accompanied by geographic considerations, recognizing that certain industries are regionally concentrated. This will enable the project to maximize synergies between sectoral and geographic targeting, thereby enhancing efficiency and the likelihood of demonstrable impact. A more deliberate and evidence-informed sectoral focus would not only improve the project’s effectiveness but also strengthen its ability to generate models for replication and policy influence.

project_symbols:

BGD/20/05/CAN

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/recommendations/2370889

information_source:

Country Office

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