CARE Bangladesh and its partner organisations have launched a skills development programme for 245,000 young people aged 18 to 35 under the Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN) project.
Youth and Sports State Minister Md Aminul Haque formally inaugurated the programme at the ‘Youth and Employers Meet’ held at the Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) in Sobhanbagh, Dhaka, on Wednesday, reads a press release.
The programme aims to provide technical, entrepreneurship development and socio-emotional skills training to young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). It seeks to expand their opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
The Department of Youth Development under the Ministry of Youth and Sports is implementing the EARN project with support from the World Bank.
Addressing the inauguration as the chief guest, State Minister Md Aminul Haque said creating employment opportunities was one of the government’s top priorities. He stressed the need to equip young people with skills aligned with labour market demands.
The state minister assured full cooperation from the government, private sector, development partners and training institutions to create practical opportunities for young people to secure jobs and become entrepreneurs.
EARN Project Director and Additional Secretary Kazi Moklesur Rahman said the ultimate goal of skills training should be to create employment and income-generating opportunities. He said the project was working not only to equip young people with skills but also to facilitate their entry into the workforce after training.
CARE Bangladesh Country Director Ram Das said the programme’s direct engagement with employers would help it effectively address actual labour market demands.
Earl R Miller, senior strategic adviser to CARE Bangladesh and former US ambassador to Bangladesh, attended the event as a special guest.
He said EARN was not merely a training programme but an integrated effort to turn young people’s untapped potential into sustainable livelihoods.
World Bank Implementation Specialist Rownak Jahan emphasised expanding economic opportunities for young women and ensuring their meaningful participation in the workplace.
During the daylong event, youth representatives and employers held open discussions on the gap between existing skills and workplace requirements. Employers outlined the skills they expected from prospective workers, while young people shared their experiences of seeking jobs and starting businesses.
Sessions including ‘Youth Take the Mic’, ‘Employers Conversation’ and ‘Youth Cafe’ focused on practical career support and networking opportunities with employers.
The project is being implemented jointly by CARE Bangladesh and the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), The Earth Society, Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), JAAGO Foundation, Mirpur Agricultural Workshop and Training School (MAWTS), Tahzingdong, UCEP Bangladesh and Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
The programme will operate in various areas, including the Rajshahi, Khulna and Mymensingh divisions and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Others who spoke at the event included CARE Bangladesh Deputy Country Director (Programmes) Emebet Menna, CARE USA Senior Technical Adviser Sarah Johnson, CARE Bangladesh Director (Coordination and Partnership) Amanur Rahman, PRAN-RFL Group Director Uzma Chowdhury, Bank Asia Senior Vice-President Kazi Murtaza Ali, Mutual Trust Bank PLC Executive Vice-President Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury and Walton Senior Executive Director Md Kawsar Uddin Chowdhury.
