Standard Chartered Bangladesh and UNICEF had joined forces to train 30,000 young people in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sales skills, said a press release on Wednesday.
Beneficiaries include marginalised individuals and people with disabilities, and the project duration will be two years.
The agreement for this initiative was signed by Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, and Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh.
This education initiative, delivered via Generation Unlimited鈥檚 Passport to Earning platform, aims at equipping participants, at least half of whom will be young women, with the skills and opportunities to secure meaningful employment or start their own businesses, and in turn contributing directly to Bangladesh鈥檚 economic growth.
The programme will develop and deliver online courses complemented by assessments, certifications, blended learning delivery, and mentorship.
Targeted campaigns will ensure participation from marginalised communities, including young people with disabilities; while mobile-first and offline options will help the participants to overcome connectivity barriers.
At least 6,000 graduates are expected to secure employment across these sectors while gaining the skills, confidence, and financial knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market.
鈥楾his collaboration with UNICEF enables us to provide over 30,000 young people, especially young women from marginalised communities, with the skills they need to succeed in the modern workforce. Through training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sales, and by connecting learners with employers across sectors like ICT, retail, FMCG, and financial services, we aim to equip them to secure meaningful employment and build businesses, contributing directly to Bangladesh鈥檚 economic growth and long-term development,鈥� said Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO, Standard Chartered Bangladesh.
鈥業n Bangladesh today, more than 800,000 graduates are unemployed, indicating a mismatch between the skill sets of young people secured through traditional education and the real needs of the job market. For young women, the challenge is even greater. Through the partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, UNICEF will introduce the Passport to Earning, under the global Generation Unlimited initiative, effectively reaching 30,000 marginalised youth, especially girls and young people with disabilities, with the confidence and skills to turn their education into real opportunities, opening doors to jobs, livelihoods, and independence,鈥� said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
The programme builds on the P2E platform, which has already enrolled more than 38,000 learners nationwide and facilitated over 1,000 job placements, backed by Microsoft technology.
