The ‘Skills for economic growth and prosperity’ project was an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funded program implemented by the NGO UCEP Bangladesh. The project ran from 2019 to 2022 with the aim of delivering second chance education and technical skills training to disadvantaged children and youth (with a special focus on girls, persons with disability and minority community members) to improve their socio-economic opportunities through improved access to education and facilitation of pathways to decent employment.

The project was implemented in eight urban areas across Bangladesh. In addition to education and technical skills training, DFAT funding also aimed to support institutional strengthening of UCEP, with special focus placed on further evolving UCEP capacity for inclusion. A significant umbrella finding of this review is the important and broad-based contribution to program implementation provided by the deep, longstanding roots that UCEP has established in its target communities. This context allows UCEP to enjoy sustained, trusting and respectful relationships with target communities, and apply a strong understanding of individual community issues.

A second umbrella finding relates to the skills eco-system which UCEP is fostering, and through which a confluence of key stakeholders come together in support of helping each other with their individual ambitions while also contributing to the common goal of providing opportunities pathways to employment for disadvantaged youth. While the skills eco-system is still maturing, UCEP has been strategic and effective in building constructive relationships with industry, employers and government that help create an enabling environment and career pathway for UCEP graduates.

The review recommended UCEP strengthen its monitoring and evaluation capability, especially in relation to reporting on qualitative aspects of its programming. Doing this in collaboration with DFAT would permit greater shared understanding and clarity around program implementation pressure points, enhancing the likelihood for phase two to carry forward the achievements of phase one.