Four organisations to train 900,000 youth under EARN project

The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Thursday signed contracts with four development organisations to implement the World Bank-supported Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN) Project (1st Revised) at a ceremony held at the Secretariat.

The selected service providers are BRAC JV, Save the Children JV, CARE Bangladesh JV, and Dhaka Ahsania Mission JV. BRAC will cover the Dhaka and Rangpur divisions, while Save the Children will work in the Barishal Division and the Chattogram and Cox's Bazar districts. CARE Bangladesh will implement the project in the three hill districts and the Khulna, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi divisions. Dhaka Ahsania Mission will oversee activities in Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, and the Sylhet Division.

By 2028, the organizations and their joint venture partners will establish 5,000 village-level training centres across 250 upazilas in all 64 districts, providing market-oriented skills training to 900,000 young people. The initiative aims to expand self-employment, promote economic transformation, and support Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque urged the inclusion of dedicated ethics education in the project's training curriculum. He said Bangladesh is witnessing a decline in morals, ethics, and social values, reflected in growing aggression among children and young people. Integrating ethics education, he added, would strengthen the project's long-term impact by helping develop responsible and value-driven youth.

Ministry Secretary (Routine Duties) Amena Begum chaired the ceremony. Department of Youth Development Director General Md. Motahar Hossain, Project Director Kazi Mokhlesur Rahman, World Bank Senior Economist and Task Team Leader Syed Rashid Al-Zayed Josh, Additional Project Director Dr. Marina Nazneen, senior government officials, and representatives of the four organizations were also present.

Implemented by the Department of Youth Development with World Bank financing, the EARN project is a flagship government initiative to expand employment opportunities for young people. It targets 900,000 people aged 15-35, including 60 percent women who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), while also supporting the country's creative and sports industries.