The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is implementing the “Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP)” through the Finance Division as the executing agency to nurture skilled workforce for technology adoption and innovation. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is financing this Results-Based Lending (RBL) program to support the Government of Bangladesh’s “Skills Development Framework for Economic Competitiveness 2023”. The success of Finance Division in executing the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP) has encouraged both ADB and the Government of Bangladesh to assign the Finance Division as the executing and implementing agency of the SICIP. Total Program cost is USD 375 Million (ADB $300 million and GoB $75 million) and program period is from October 2023 to June 2029. Total trainee targets of the programme are 2,20,000 (appx) with job placement of 65% of the new entrants.
The program aims to increase the technology-oriented skilled workforce across emerging and priority sectors, promote inclusive skilling and upskilling opportunities for women and socially disadvantaged groups, incentivize industry−university partnerships to nurture innovation capacity and improve industry competitiveness, and foster skills for climate-resilient manufacturing processes and green technologies.
The overall impact of SICIP will be a technology-ready workforce developed for a diversified and innovation-driven economy.
The outcome of the program will be an increased technology-oriented skilled workforce for priority and emerging industries across skill levels.
The SICIP consists of four outputs:
- Output1: Capacity for advanced technical skills training developed for emerging and priority sectors.
- Output 2: Managerial capabilities and green innovation capacity strengthened.
- Output 3: Access to socially inclusive skilling and upskilling expanded; and
- Output 4: Institutional capacity for skills monitoring and management enhanced.
This program will be implemented under following 3 schemes:
Scheme-1: Advanced Technical Skills, Managerial Capabilities, and R&D Driven Innovation Capacity Development for Priority and Emerging Industries.
Scheme KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):
- By 2028, at least 5 industries–academic partnerships established for advanced skills programs.
- By 2028, at least 20 advanced technical courses implemented based on industry demands, including at least 3 courses specifically targeted for women.
- By 2028, at least 4,800 people (at least 15% women) enrolled in industry-demanded advanced or emerging technology courses.
- By 2028, at least 35 practical training labs or workshops in advanced technologies created and operational for training (e.g. BUFT, STTLs, BITAC, polytechnics), including green technologies.
- By 2028, at least 3 international partnerships established for advanced technical courses.
- By 2028, at least 3,250 people (15% women) enrolled in mid-level managerial training at EDCs, covering at least 4 industry sectors.
- By 2026, sustainable institutional plans finalized by 4 EDCs for implementation from project year 4.
- By 2028, at least 7 R&D projects implemented for industry development through university–industry collaborations.
- By 2028, at least 5 R&D project outcomes have been piloted or adopted by industries or government agencies, including those using green technologies or skills.
- By 2028, a program or a policy drafted to incentivize nonresident Bangladeshi scientists and engineers for collaboration on industry-focused R&D projects.
- By 2029, at least 65% of certified new job seekers across all skill levels are placed in jobs, as an average of trainees from basic, mid-level, advanced, and managerial skills courses.
Scheme-2: Expansion of Skills for Employment and Socially Inclusive Training for Priority and Emerging Sectors.
Scheme KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
- By 2028, at least 12 performance (results)-based training contracts signed and implemented with industry and NGO partners, covering at least 9 priority and emerging sectors.
- By 2028, at least 160,000 people (at least 30% women) enrolled in competency-based job-ready basic and mid-level skills courses.
- By 2028, at least 23,000 women enrolled in women-targeted skills programs, including multi-skilling courses and green skills programs.
- By 2028, at least 10,000 people from socially disadvantaged groups (e.g., orphans, people with disabilities, transgender people, people from small ethnic communities) enrolled in targeted skills programs.
- By 2028, at least 18,000 people enrolled in international certificate courses for potential migrant workers.
- By 2029, at least 65% of certified new job seekers across skill levels are placed in jobs (DLI 1), (average of trainees from basic, mid-level, advanced, and managerial skills courses)
Scheme-3: Enhancing Institutional Capacity for Skills Monitoring and Management.
Scheme KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
- By 2024, an industry advisory board established to provide guidance on sector coverage and emerging skills requirements for advanced level training (DLI 3)
- By 2024, TMS modules enhanced to report on different levels of skills training and track progress in DLIs, with disaggregated data of trainees by gender and other attributes (DLI 9)
- By 2028, analytic reports based on TMS data produced annually, with disaggregated analysis by gender and socially disadvantaged groups (DLI 9)
- By 2028, internal audits conducted by covering at least 10 implementing partners according to annual internal audit plans, and action plans developed based on audit results (DLI 9)
- By 2028, two rounds of performance audits of the RBL program (including implementing partners) undertaken and action plans implemented (DLI 9)
- By 2028, program action plans implemented (e.g., gender, social inclusion, and capacity development plans) and semiannual progress reports provided to ADB, including social and environmental safeguards reports.
