KOICA-UNICEF project equips 17,000 young women with skills

Nearly 17,000 out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Bangladesh have benefited from a US$5.94 million project aimed at improving their access to jobs, entrepreneurship and financial services.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) marked the completion of the four-year initiative at a ceremony in Dhaka on Monday.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj attended the event as the chief guest.

Funded by the South Korean government through KOICA and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with government agencies and local partners, the project ran from July 2022 to September 2026 across seven districts.

It targeted marginalised girls and young women aged 15 to 24 who were excluded from formal education, providing market-oriented vocational training, transferable skills and support to enter the workforce.

Through practical training, workplace apprenticeships, employer engagement and entrepreneurship assistance, the initiative sought to help participants secure paid jobs or establish their own businesses.

It also connected aspiring entrepreneurs with financial institutions to improve their access to financial services and support their economic independence.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Boby Hajjaj stressed the need to develop communication skills alongside technical competencies to prepare young people for employment and future challenges.

“I appreciate this initiative of KOICA and UNICEF, which opened real pathways for young women. Skill development is vital for our young people, but technical skills alone are not enough,” he said.

He added that communication skills should also be prioritised to help young people present themselves confidently and adapt to different situations.

KOICA Bangladesh’s country director said the project reflected South Korea’s commitment to investing in young women’s potential and promoting inclusive economic growth.

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The initiative’s value lay not only in the number of participants reached but also in linking skills development with practical employment and business opportunities, the country director said.

UNICEF Bangladesh Representative a.i. Gillian Mellsop said the project had helped create pathways to a better future for participating girls by connecting them with employers, communities and public institutions.

She stressed the importance of sustaining and adapting the project’s approaches to extend similar opportunities to more young women.

The initiative also supports the government’s efforts to expand non-formal education and skills development across the country.