Freelance and Bangladesh

Freelance and Bangladesh

Bangladesh is well-placed to benefit from the demographic dividend up to 2050, and believe that combined with effective policies and markets could trigger faster rates of economic growth and human development. Thereby, accept as true that human resource plays a vital role in the knowledge economy and working population and it is becoming an increasingly important factor for the performance of individuals, organizations and whole economies. However, the upgrading of skill based labor market due to technological and organizational change is one of the major threats for the low skilled workers in Bangladesh, as they are being unable to adjust their skills according to the market demand. In this context, PKSF has agreed to implement the ‘Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP)’project and signed the MoU with SDCMU on 7^th May 2015 to ensure training and employment for the poor and marginalized people of the country so that they can develop their living standard sustainably. PKSF will make sure demand driven skill-based training among the poor people under the SEIP project with a view to create wage and self employment.

The Finance Division of Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh (GoB) is working as the executive agency to implement this project. The Finance Division has established ‘Skill Development Coordination and Monitoring Unit’ (SDCMU) to execute the project. Under the direct supervision of SDCMU, different organizations including PKSF are implementing the project. Asian Development Bank, Government of Bangladesh and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) are jointly financing the project.

The goal of the project is to develop skilled workforce through skills training and therefore placing them in productive self and wage employment which will in turn improve their sustainable livelihood.

Objectives of the Project:

The main objectives of the SEIP project are;

• Impart skills training linked to gainful wage or self employment through PKSF partners and selected training institutes;
• Increase access for targeted poor (both male and female) people to market responsive skills development training programs;
• Ensure job placement of the trainees after training and
• Increase income of the trained trainees.

Emphasizing the importance of appropriate selection process of the trainees:

One of the major objectives of SEIP project is Industry-demand driven workforce development. That’s why the appropriate selection of the project participants is an important factor. Therefore, highlighting the importance of appropriate selection of project participants under SEIP project, thirteen (13) workshops had been placed with Partner NGOs of PKSF as the project participants are selected through them. The venues were in; DESHA, Kushtia, Jagoroni Chakra Foundation (JCF) Jessore, Nabalok Khulna, Satkhira Unnayan Samity (SUS) Khulna, Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) Sylhet, Paige Development Center Comilla, TMSS Rangpur, TMSS Bogra, TMSS Natore, Gono Kallayan Trust (GKT) Manikganj, ASPADA Mymenshing, Bangladesh Development Society (BDS) Barishal, Society Development Committee (SDC) Faridpur from 27^th March to 19^th May 2016.Wherein, the Executive Director, Director, Regional Manager, Branch manager of almost all the (164) Partner Organizations of PKSF was present. Personnel from PKSF and SEIP project coordinated all the workshops. Objectives of SEIP project, current challenges of selecting participants for the project and the steps of approved trainee selection that the POs should follow.

Besides this workshop, two major workshops on the topics of ‘Job Placement’ and maintaining proper ‘Finance & Accounts guideline’ towards the endurance of effective implementation of the project took place under SEIP project at PKSF Bhaban.

SEIP Project visit of Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegates:

On 16^th April 2016, delegates of ADB, one of the donor of SEIP project and personnel of Support to Skills Development Coordination and Monitoring Unit (SDCMU) visited one of the current training activities of the training institution, Bangla German Samprity (BGS)Tangail of SEIP. Project coordinator of SEIP, Deputy General Manager (Operation) PKSF, Md. Abul Kashem guided the team on behalf of PKSF. The team was consisted with Mr. Rudi Van Dael, Senior Sector Specialist and A.K.M. Shamsuddin, Consultant from ADB, Mr.Erich Guttman, Backstopper, SDC; Syed Nasir Ershad, AEPD, SEIP and Md. Ahsan Habib, TVET Specialist, SEIP from SDCMU. The team conveyed their contentment regarding the Training Activities and Overall Management of the project work throughout.

For more information see below this