DESCRIPTION

The Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP) supports the government's ambitious skills development initiatives, which aim to enhance the productivity and employability of the growing workforce to reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth. The proposed Project 2 (2017 -2021) aims to harness the evolving skills development system by strengthening training partnerships established under Project 1, while expanding the scope of skills training. Horizontally, Project 2 will expand its sectoral coverage of training from six to nine priority industries, bring in additional public and private training partners, and pilot upskilling training for Bangladesh migrant workers overseas. Vertically, Project 2 will upscale mid-level skills training (e.g., quality control personnel and supervisors) and introduce a new industry-specific managerial training program in response to the emerging "middle-management gap." Project 2 will also emphasize women's access to various skilling opportunities to promote their formal-sector employment and gender equality.

PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY

Project 1 (2014-2017) is being implemented by forging large-scale partnerships with public, private, and nongovernmental training providers to deliver mostly entry-level skills training to new entrants and existing workers in six priority sectors . The proposed Project 2 (2017- 2021) aims to harness the evolving skills development efforts by continuing ongoing training, while expanding the scope of skills training both horizontally and vertically.

IMPACT

Income and productivity of the working population aged 15 and over increased.

CONSULTING SERVICES

All consultants will be selected using ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). Since the investment program is being financed by ADB's Special Funds resources and ADB will also be administering cofinancing to be provided by the Government of Switzerland, ADB's member country eligibility restrictions will not apply to this investment program. Industry associations and PKSF will be contracted by the executing agency using single-source selection to deliver skills training in agreed sectors and skills areas.

PROCUREMENT

The government has requested advance contracting to procure new training packages and related consulting services, and retroactive financing in an amount not exceeding 20% of the loan amount and the grant amount, respectively, for eligible expenditures incurred during the period of 12 months before the signing of the loan agreement and the grant agreement. The government has been advised that approval of advance contracting and retroactive financing does not commit ADB to finance the proposed Project 2.

Grant 0517-BAN: Skills for Employment Investment Program - Tranche 2
Government of Switzerland US$ 4.50 million

Grant: Skills for Employment Investment Program - Tranche 2
Korea International Cooperation Agency US$ 6.00 million

Loan 3468-BAN: Skills for Employment Investment Program - Tranche 2
Concessional ordinary capital resources / Asian Development Fund US$ 100.00 million

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main

CONTACTS

Responsible ADB Officer Lee, Sunhwa
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Human and Social Development Division, SARD
Executing Agencies Ministry of Finance
Economic Relations Division (ERD), MOF
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka_1207
Bangladesh