National Summit Champions Young Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership in Dhaka

Save the Children in Bangladesh, with support from UNICEF, hosted the "From Aspiration to Achievement: National Summit on Young Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership" today in Dhaka.

Held under the Promotion of Women’s Empowerment and Resilience Building (POWER) Project, the landmark summit brought together policymakers, government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and young women. The event focused heavily on supporting adolescent girls and young women, particularly those not in education, employment, or training, by strengthening their economic participation, leadership, and resilience. 

The day's high-level proceedings also featured remarks from special guest Ms. Deepa Sankar, Chief of Education for UNICEF Bangladesh. Highlighting the critical importance of education and skill development for youth empowerment in Bangladesh, she emphasized that non-formal education and skill training programs should no longer be viewed merely as alternative pathways, but integrated as vital components of the mainstream education system. She commended Save the Children for this timely initiative and wished the project continued success.

Another special guestMr. Kazi Moklesur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sportsand Project Director of the EARN Project highlighted the scope for institutional synergy. He expressed his keen interest in integrating the learnings and achievements of Save the Children's POWER project into the Ministry’s key initiatives, including the government's EARN project. He praised Save the Children for this impactful initiative and wished for its continued success. 

Mr. Mahdi Amin, Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister, honored the event as the Chief Guest. Mr. Amin stated that initiatives like Save the Children's POWER project inspire the government to further drive the national growth narrative, particularly in youth and women's empowerment. Emphasizing practical skill application over formal degrees, he noted, "Building practical skills is far more critical than merely acquiring academic certificates. The government is committed to collaborating with development partners like Save the Children to create such practical learning opportunities." He further added that empowering the nation requires building the capacity of a significant segment of the population – especially young people and women. In his closing remarks, he congratulated the participating young women and thanked the organizers for hosting the summit.

The day-long program featured an inaugural ceremony highlighting inspirational personal journeys shared directly by young women participants, followed by policy dialogues and panel discussions. Sessions throughout the day centered on strengthening the ecosystem for young women's economic empowerment and bridging the gap between youth and employers for the future of work. Through collaborative networking, exhibitions, and strategic discussions, the summit sought to chart clear pathways for advancing young women's economic independence and long-term leadership across Bangladesh. 

The Promotion of Women’s Empowerment and Resilience Building (POWER) Project, implemented under the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) Fund, aims to enhance economic opportunities for more than 26,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 13–25 in Kishoreganj district, particularly those not in education, employment or training (NEET). The project focuses on developing technical, vocational and life skills, improving access to employment and entrepreneurship, and addressing social barriers to young women’s economic participation. It also promotes STEM education, green skills and youth leadership to strengthen their economic empowerment and resilience. Running from March 2024 to December 2026, the project is led by Save the Children in partnership with UCEP Bangladesh, The Earth and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and UNICEF.

-EM