All project resources
World Youth Skills Day
No time to wait: Bangladesh must upskill its youth today
This Op-Ed by Pedro Jr Bellen, Officer-In-Charge in ILO Bangladesh was published by The Business Standard, one of the leading English newspapers in Bangladesh on 15 July 2025 to mark the World Youth Skills Day.
Our impact, Their story
Skills that transformed my life and others
Bijly Baroi turned her passion for caregiving into a profession—and then into a platform to inspire others. With support from the ILO’s ProGRESS project and Unicare Health and Technical Training Institute, she went from trainee to trainer at a...
Gender equality
Assessment of gender equality and social inclusion gaps in the skills and TVET sector of Bangladesh
This report highlights the need for significant improvements in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) within Bangladesh's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system through a coordinated approach. involving various...
Creating Change, One Story at a Time
Polio slowed my walk, not my will: Breaking limits, one phone at a time
Polio didn’t stop Arafath. Trained under the ISEC project, he turned his passion for electronics into a career, transforming his disability into a strength and a job into a mission to support his family and inspire others.
Creating Change, One Story at a Time
They call me a Rohingya refugee, but I’m also an entrepreneur
In the heart of a refugee camp, Saida’s kitchen is becoming a symbol of resilience. She’s one of 250 Rohingya women turning tradition into entrepreneurship through food processing training under the ISEC project. Each jar tells a story of survival,...
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) Day 2025
Policymakers and business associations call for clear SME definitions, formalization and inclusive finance in Bangladesh
On 30 June 2025, government officials, entrepreneurs, economists, and development partners met to discuss a new SME policy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They highlighted the urgent need to clarify definition of SMEs and to establish a...
Creating Change, One Story at a Time
The school that built hope on an island
A remote school surrounded by the sea in Cox’s Bazar is now offering certified training in trades like masonry, plumbing and electrical work. This helps keep opportunities close to home, empowering young people to build careers and strengthen their...
Creating Change, One Story at a Time
From scorched fields to fair wages: National consultation sparks hope for Cox’s Bazar workers
Bangladesh’s salt farmers face scorching conditions and low pay. The ILO-ISEC project is aiming to improve the lives of salt workers by providing fair wages, safer working conditions and stronger rights.
Our impact, Their story
Weaving dreams and dignity: My path from heritage to entrepreneurship
Suranjana Singha, a social science graduate from the Manipuri ethnic community in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh, turned a lifelong cultural tradition into a thriving social enterprise. After losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded her own...
Skills development
Dialogue with private sector highlights collaborative approach to skills development in Bangladesh
Gender equality
Bangladesh forms inter-ministerial gender and skills taskforce to spearhead gender mainstreaming in employment
World Tourism Day
Tourism in Bangladesh: A catalyst for job creation
This Op-Ed by Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director in ILO Bangladesh published by The Business Standard one of the leading English newspaper on 27 September 2024 to mark the World Tourism Day.
Unlocking potential: Gender-Responsive Budgeting in TVET and skills development - Investing in women's economic empowerment
The ILO’s ProGRESS Project, funded by the Government of Canada, organised a dynamic discussion on ‘Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) for the skills and TVET sectors’ on 11 March 2024.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes for women & girls: A Plea for Action
To mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence observance, the Government of Canada funded ILO’s ProGRESS project supported the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) to conduct a rapid survey on gender-based violence (GBV) in TVET...
ILO-Canada and the Government of Bangladesh start ProGRESS project to build the foundation for an inclusive skills system
Project: Employability of women workers
Promoting Gender Responsive Enterprise Development and TVET Systems (ProGRESS)
The ProGRESS Project is a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and the International Labour Organization (ILO), funded by the Government of Canada.