世界銀行2024年在孟加拉國(guó)（英）

World

Bank

Of?ce

DhakaPlot-E-32,Agargaon,Sher-e-BanglaNagar,

Dhaka-1207BangladeshTel:

880-2-5566-7777Fax:880-2-5566-7778The

World

Bank1818HStreet,NWWashington,DC20433USATel:

1-202-473-1000Fax:1-207-477-6391/bangladeshStandard

disclaimer:Thisvolumeisaproductofthestaf

oftheInternationalBankforReconstructionandDevelopment/TheWorldBank.Thef

ndings,interpretations,andconclusionsexpressedinthispaperdonotnecessarilyref

ecttheviewsoftheExecutiveDirectorsoftheWorldBankorthegovernmentstheyrepresent.TheWorldBankdoesnotguaranteetheaccuracyofthedataincludedinthiswork.Theboundaries,colors,denominations,andotherinformationshownonanymapinthisworkdonotimplyanyjudgmentonthepartoftheWorldBankconcerningthelegalstatusofanyterritoryortheendorsementoracceptanceofsuchboundaries.Copyright

statement:Thematerialinthispublicationiscopyrighted.TheWorldBankencouragesdisseminationofitsworkandwillnormallygrantpermissiontoreproduceportionoftheworkpromptly.Photo

credit:Arne

Hoel,

Asiatic,

Bangladesh

Road

Transport

Authority,

David

Waldorf,

Dhaka

South

City

Corporation,

Dominic

Chavez,

Forest

Department,

HabibulHaque,

IDCOL,

Ismail

Ferdous,

KM

Asad,

Mahfuzul

Hasan

Bhuiyan,

Mehrin

Ahmed

Mahbub,

Ministry

of

Health

and

Family

Welfare,

MohammadShahedal-Kaium,

Palli

Karma-Sahayak

Foundation,

Shehab

Uddin,

Shutterstock,

Suman

Paul,

Tanvir

Murad

Topu,

Tapash

Paul,

Team

IPGM/

TitasGas

Transmission

and

Distribution

Company

Limited,

UNFPA,

UNICEFPrintedbyProgressivePrintersPvt.Ltd.FOREWORDOverthepast50years,Bangladeshhasmaderemarkabledevelopmentprogressthathavegarneredglobalattention.Itisastoryofresilience,determination,andasharedcommitmentto

reducingpovertyandfosteringsharedprosperity.Injustfourdecades,Bangladeshhastransformeditselffrombeingoneofthepoorestnationsatindependenceto

turningintoalower-middle-incomecountry.Thisjourneystandsasaninspirationto

nationsaroundtheworld.Earlyon,Bangladeshtookdecisionsto

empowerwomen,asdemonstratedbyachievinggenderparityinschoolenrollment.Today,

over97percentofchildreninBangladeshenrollsinprimaryschool.At

thesametime,Bangladeshhasreducedmaternalandchildmortalitysignif

cantly.Beingseverelyaf

ectedbytheimpactsofclimatechange,thecountryhasdemonstrateditsresilienceandleadershipinadaptationanddisasterpreparedness.Thecountryhasmodernizeditsagriculturesectorto

improveproductivityto

feedalargepopulationandcopeupwithclimatechallenges.PrivateSectorgrowthcontributedto

sustainedgrowthandjobcreation.Bangladeshisthesecondlargestexportersofready-madegarmentsintheworld,employinghundredsandthousandsofruralwomen.Today,

accessto

energyisalmostuniversalandruralroadsandbridgesconnecttheremotestcorners.Ialsowishto

commendBangladeshforitsgenerosityinprovidingshelterandsupportto

thedisplacedRohingyapopulation.TheWorldBankhasmobilizedresourcesto

aidinaddressingthiscrisis,withafocusonthehealth,learning,andbasicserviceneedsoftheforcefullydisplacedRohingyapopulationlivinginCox’s

BazarDistrict,aswellasforthehostcommunities.TheWorldBankhasbeenaproudpartnerinBangladesh’sjourney.Sinceindependence,wehaveprovidedabout$40billioninf

nancingto

reducepovertyandadvancedevelopment.Ourpartnershipextendsto

awidearrayofsectors,includinghumandevelopment,infrastructure,urbandevelopment,climatechange,environment,agriculture,andmanymore.Thetangibleresultsofthiscollaborationarevisibleinimprovedhumancapital,infrastructure,livabilityandasustainedeconomicgrowth.Astheworldisfacingintertwinedandunprecedentedglobalchallenges,theWorldBankishelpingBangladeshnavigatethechallengesandachieveitsvisionofuppermiddle-incomestatusby2031.Bangladeshremainedanimportantpartnerinourmissionofendingextremepovertyandboostingsharedprosperityonalivableplanet.ThestorieswithinthesepagesprovideaglimpseintotheongoingWorldBankprojectsinBangladesh.Theyunderscorethepotentialthatarisesfromastrongcommitmentto

soundpolicies,reinforcingourbeliefthatBangladeshcanprovideitspeoplewithabrighterandbetterfuture.Andtheyserveasatestamentto

theremarkableprogressandenduringcollaborationbetweentheWorldBankandthepeopleofBangladesh.AbdoulayeSeckCountryDirectorforBangladeshandBhutanTheWorldBankT

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iCONTENTSSTRATEGY11EDUCATION34QUALITY

LEARNING

FOR

ALL

PROGRAMACCELERATING

AND

STRENGTHENING

SKILLS

FOR

ECONOMIC

TRANSFORMATIONHIGHER

EDUCATION

ACCELERATION

AND

TRANSFORMATION

PROJECTECONOMIC

ACCELERATION

AND

RESILIENCE

FOR

NEETLEARNING

ACCELERATION

IN

SECONDARY

EDUCATION

OPERATION68101223HEALTH,

NUTRITIONANDPOPULATIONHEALTH

SECTOR

SUPPORT

PROJECT1516COVID-19

EMERGENCY

RESPONSE

AND

PANDEMIC

PREPAREDNESS

PROJECTURBAN

HEALTH,

NUTRITION

AND

POPULATION

PROJECT1820SOCIAL

PROTECTION

AND

JOBSSAFETY

NET

SYSTEMS

FOR

THE

POOREST2324CASH

TRANSFER

MODERNIZATION

PROJECT26RECOVERY

AND

ADVANCEMENT

OF

INFORMAL

SECTOR

EMPLOYMENTBANGLADESH

ENHANCING

INVESTMENTS

AND

BENEFITS

FOR

EARLY

YEARS283045AGRICULTURE

&

FOOD3334BANGLADESH

MODERN

FOOD

STORAGE

FACILITIES

PROJECTLIVESTOCK

AND

DAIRY

DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT36CLIMATE-SMART

AGRICULTURE

AND

WATER

MANAGEMENT

PROJECTRESILIENCE,

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

AND

LIVELIHOOD

IMPROVEMENT

PROJECT3840PROGRAM

ON

AGRICULTURAL

AND

RURAL

TRANSFORMATION

FOR

NUTRITION,ENTREPRENEURSHIP,

AND

RESILIENCE

IN

BANGLADESH42WATER4546BANGLADESH

MUNICIPAL

WATER

SUPPLY

AND

SANITATION

PROJECTDHAKA

SANITATION

IMPROVEMENT

PROJECT48BD

RURAL

WATER,

SANITATION

AND

HYGIENE

FOR

HUMAN

CAPITALDEVELOPMENT

PROJECT50JAMUNA

RIVER

SUSTAINABLE

MANAGEMENT

PROJECT

152671011GOVERNANCE,97ENERGY55EQUITY

AND

DIGITALDEVELOPMENTPOWER

SYSTEM

RELIABILITY

AND

EFFICIENCYIMPROVEMENT

PROJECT56BANGLADESH

SCALING-UP

RENEWABLEENERGY

PROJECT586062BANGLADESH

STRENGTHENING

PFMPROGRAM

TO

ENABLE

SERVICE

DELIVERY98ELECTRICITY

DISTRIBUTION

MODERNIZATIONPROGRAMNATIONAL

STRATEGY

FOR

DEVELOPMENTOF

STATISTICS

IMPLEMENTATION

SUPPORT100102ENHANCEMENT

AND

STRENGTHENING

OFPOWER

TRANSMISSION

NETWORK

IN

EASTERNREGION

PROJECTBANGLADESH:

ENHANCING

DIGITALGOVERNMENT

&

ECONOMY

PROJECTGAS

SECTOR

EFFICIENCY

IMPROVEMENT

ANDCARBON

ABATEMENT

PROJECT64ENVIRONMENT

AND105NATURAL

RESOURCESTRANSPORT67BANGLADESH

SUSTAINABLE

COASTAL

ANDMARINE

FISHERIES106108BANGLADESH

REGIONAL

WATERWAYTRANSPORT

PROJECT

168SUSTAINABLE

FORESTS

&

LIVELIHOODS(SUFAL)

PROJECTBANGLADESH

REGIONAL

CONNECTIVITYPROJECT

17072SUSTAINABLE

ENTERPRISE

PROJECT110112BANGLADESH

ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY

AND

TRANSFORMATIONPROJECTOPERATION

FOR

SUPPORTING

RURAL

BRIDGESWESTERN

ECONOMIC

CORRIDOR

AND

REGIONAL

74ENHANCEMENT

PROGRAMSUSTAINABLE

MICROENTERPRISE

ANDRESILIENT

TRANSFORMATION

(SMART)114116BANGLADESH

ROAD

SAFETY

PROJECT7678ACCELERATING

TRANSPORT

AND

TRADECONNECTIVITY

IN

EASTERN

SOUTH

ASIA

–BANGLADESH

PHASE

1

PROJECTFIRST

GREEN

AND

CLIMATE

RESILIENTDEVELOPMENT

CREDIT1213CLIMATE

CHANGE

ANDRESILIENCE11989URBAN81DHAKA

CITY

NEIGHBORHOOD

UPGRADING

PROJECT

82BANGLADESH

URBAN

RESILIENCE

PROJECT120LOCAL

GOVERNMENT

COVID-19

RESPONSE

&RECOVERY

PROJECT84MULTIPURPOSE

DISASTER

SHELTER

PROJECT

122BANGLADESH

WEATHER

AND

CLIMATESERVICES

REGIONAL

PROJECT124FINANCE

AND87RESILIENT

INFRASTRUCTURE

FORADAPTATION

AND

VULNERABILITY

REDUCTION126COMPETITIVENESSEXPORT

COMPETITIVENESS

FOR

JOBS8890SUPPORT

TO

DISPLACED

129ROHINGYA

AND

HOSTCOMMUNITYBANGLADESH

INSURANCE

SECTORDEVELOPMENT

PROJECTINVESTMENT

PROMOTION

AND

FINANCINGFACILITY

PROJECT

II9294EMERGENCY

MULTI-SECTOR

ROHINGYACRISIS

RESPONSE

PROJECT130BANGLADESH

PRIVATE

INVESTMENT

&

DIGITALENTREPRENEURSHIP

PROJECTHEALTH

AND

GENDER

SUPPORT

PROJECTFOR

COX’S

BAZAR

DISTRICT132World

Bank’s

Country

PartnershipFramework

FY

23-27

for

BangladeshSupports

Bangladesh’s

vision

of

upper

middle-income

status

by

2031INCREASEDPRIVATE

SECTORJOBSIMPROVEDSOCIOECONOMICINCLUSIONENHANCED

CLIMATERESILIENCEImproved

businessenvironmentfor

holisticImproved

accessto

quality

servicesfor

human

capitaldevelopmentImprovedefectiveness

ofdelta

managementto

accelerateprivate

sectordevelopmentdevelopment

ofclimate

resilienceStrengthenedfnancial

systemsto

support

long-term

growth

andresilienceEnhancedopportunities

forwomen,

poor,

andvulnerable

groupsEnhancedsustainabilityand

productivityin

the

use

ofnatural

capitalfor

climate-smartgreen

growthImprovedefectiveness

ofpublic

institutionsto

deliver

betterservicesStrengthenedspatial

and

digitalconnectivity

forinclusive

growthSTRATEGYSinceBangladesh’sindependence,theWorldBankthroughitsconcessionallendingarm—theInternationalDevelopmentAssociation(IDA)—hascommittedabout$40billioningrants,interest-freeandconcessionalf

nancingcreditsto

Bangladeshto

helpachievethecountryitsdevelopmentgoals.CurrentlywithatotalIDAcommitmentstandingat$15.6billionfor53ongoingprojects(asofJanuary1,2024),BangladeshhasthelargestIDAprogramglobally.TheWorldBankGroup’s

ongoing

Country

Partnership

Framework

(CPF)

for

Bangladeshfor

FY

23-27

supportsthecountryto

achieveitsvisionofupper-middle-incomestatusby2031.

TheframeworkisanchoredintheGovernmentofBangladesh’sEighthFive-Year

Plan2021–2025andtheLong-Term

PerspectivePlan2021–2041,aswellasinputsreceivedfromcountry-wideconsultations.ItishelpingBangladeshaddresskeybarriersto

higherandsustainablegrowthto

achieveitsdevelopmentgoals.Buildingonthecountry’sremarkabledevelopmentprogress,theCPFseeksto

helpBangladeshtransformitselfintoamorecompetitive,resilient,inclusive,andgreenereconomyasitaspiresto

becomeanuppermiddle-incomecountryby2031.Itwillsupportthreekeyprioritiesneededforthecountry’sgrowthaspirations:developadiversif

edandcompetitiveprivatesectorto

createmoreandbetterjobs;promotesocioeconomicinclusionto

expandopportunitiesforall;andaddressclimateandenvironmentalvulnerabilities.Guidedbythesepriorities,theCPFproposesarobustprogramoftechnicalandf

nancialsupportfocusingoneightobjectives:???????improvedbusinessenvironmentforbroad-basedprivatesectordevelopment;strengthenedf

nancialintermediationforlong-termgrowthandresilience;improvedef

ectivenessofpublicinstitutionsto

deliverbetterservices;improvedqualityandequitableaccessforhumancapitaldevelopmentservices;enhancedeconomicopportunitiesforwomenandvulnerablegroups;strengthenedspatialanddigitalconnectivityforinclusivegrowth;improvedef

ectivenessofdeltamanagementforacceleratedclimateresiliencebuildingandsustainability;productivityintheuseofnaturalcapitalforgreengrowthandenergy.Strongerinstitutionsandpolicieswillbeneededasthecountrymovesupinmiddle-incomeladder.TheCPFsupportsthegovernment’sreformprogramsforresilientandinclusiveeconomicgrowth,bymaximizingsynergiesamongtheWorldBank’s

InternationalDevelopmentAssociation,theInternationalFinanceCorporation(IFC),andtheMultilateralInvestmentGuaranteeAgency(MIGA).T

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1EducationE

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Learning

for

All

ProgramBASICAPPROVALDATE:ENDTOTALIMPLEMENTINGAGENCIES:INFORMATIONDATE:COMMITMENT:June14December31$650Directorate

of

PrimaryEducation20182024millionFULFILLINGEDUCATION’S

PROMISEOVERVIEWEducationdevelopschildren’slatentcapabilities,contributesto

askilledworkforceandactsasapowerfultoolforreducingpoverty,increasingsharedprosperityandboostingeconomicgrowth.Educationisafundamentalrightofeverychild.Accordingly,enhancingthecoverageandqualityofeducationisahighpriorityforthegovernmentofBangladesh(GoB)andthedevelopmentpartners.

TheQualityLearningforAllProgram(QLEAP),initiatedin2018,issupportingthegovernment’sFourthPrimaryEducationDevelopmentProgramme,whichisasector-wideprogramcoveringgrades1through5andoneyearofpre-primaryeducation.TheQLEAPaimsto

improvethequalityofandenhanceequitableaccessto

educationfrompre-primaryto

grade5.4QUALITY

LEARNINGFOR

ALLPROGRAM

(QLEAP)CHALLENGEEXPECTED

RESULTSBangladeshhasmaderemarkableprogressinenhancingaccessto

primaryeducationinrecentdecades.Itnowhasanetenrolmentrate

(NER)ofaround98percentandhasachievedgenderparityinschoolenrolment.

Ithasalsomadesomenotableimprovementsinsystemef

iciency.However,thedesiredqualityofeducationisyetto

beachieved.Nationalstudentassessmentsshowlowlearningoutcomesingrades3and5.SchoolclosureforayearandhalfduringtheCOVID19pandemichaveaf

ectedthestudent’slearning.50%

and51%

gradelevelcompetenciesinBanglaandMathematicsrespectivelyachievedbyGradeIIIstudents.85.12%

completionrate

forprimaryeducation(AnnualPrimarySchoolCensus(APSC),2022)Morethan

700,000

out-of-schoolchildrenenrolledinlearningcenters.Schoolreadinessofchildrenatprimaryschoolentryremainsachallenge.Manyschoolsarestillovercrowded,andmanyschoolsoperatedoubleshif

sresultingininadequatecontacthours,teacherqualif

cationsandmotivationremainlow,andclassroomteachingleavesmuchroomforimprovement.Inaddition,qualitymonitoringandsupervisionoftheteachinglearningactivitiesatschoollevelisyetto

beensured.Furthermore,despitetheprogressmadeinincreasingprimaryenrollment,dueto

COVID-19schoolclosure,numberofout-of-schoolchildrenhasbeenincreased;.Apartfromservice-deliverychallengesattheschoollevel,thesectoralsofacessystem-levelissuessuchasinadequatef

nancing,constraintsto

managementdecentralization,andweaklocalcapacity.78.30%

schoolsmeetingstandardratioof40studentsfor1teacher(AnnualSectorPerformanceReport,2021).11,368GovernmentPrimaryschoolsconvertedto

singleshif

fromdoubleshif

(APSC,2022)65,000

schoolsreceiveSchoolLevelImprovementPlanfundsannually.82%schoolsdisplaykeyschooldata

inpublicarea.APPROACHTheprojectisbuiltupontheexperienceofpredecessorWorldBankprojects,PEDP2(2004-2011)andPEDP3(2011-2017).

To

enhancethequalityofeducation,itputsspecialemphasisonimprovingthequalityofandaccessto

pre-primaryeducation,strengtheningteacherquality,improvingthecurriculumandteachinglearningmaterials,strengtheningtheexaminationandassessmentsystem,andimprovingschoolinfrastructure.

To

ensureuniversalaccessto

primaryeducation,italsofocusesonprovidingeducationalopportunitiesforout-of-schoolchildren.TOWARDS

THEFUTUREQLEAPwillcontributeto

Bangladesh’slong-termobjectiveofhumancapitaldevelopmentforpovertyreductionandeconomicgrowthaccordingto

theSecondNationalStrategyforAcceleratedPovertyReduction,thePerspectivePlan2021-2041,theNationalEducationPolicy2010,Bangladesh8th5-yearstrategicplan.TheprojectisalsoalignedwiththeSDGgoalsofprovidingfree,equitableandqualityprimaryeducationforallandensuringuniversalaccesstoqualityearlychildhooddevelopment,careandpre-primaryeducation.GoBhasintroducedpilotingof2yearsofpre-primaryeducationfromJanuary2023,upontheresultofthispilotingthegovernmentwilltake

initiativeto

extendpre-primarylevelto

twoyears,whichislikelyto

haveasignif

cantpositiveimpactontheschoolreadinessofyoungchildren.QLEAPusestheProgramforResults(PforR)f

nancinginstrument,whichmeans100percentofWorldBankf

nancingunderQLEAPislinkedwithresultsachievedonthegroundanddisbursedaf

erprogramtargetsassociatedwithasetofkeyindicatorshavebeenmet.Theindicatorscoverthreebroadresultsareasincludei)quality,ii)equitableaccessandparticipation,andiii)managementandf

nancing.Theprojectnowalsosupportspre-primaryandeducationinemergency.T

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NAccelerating

and

Strengthening

Skills

forEconomic

Transformation

ProjectBASICAPPROVALDATE:ENDTOTALIMPLEMENTING

AGENCIES:DATE:COMMITMENT:INFORMATIONDirectorate

of

TechnicalEducation,

Technical

andMadrasah

Education

DivisionMay20December31$300million20212026JOBS

OFTHEFUTUREOVERVIEWWiththerapid

economic

progressgrowth

drivers

byenhancingthequalityofthelaborforce.

TheAcceleratingandStrengthening

Skillsfor

EconomicTransformation

(ASSET)

project

aimsto

equipyouthandworkers

withskillsneededfor

thefuture

ofwork.Itwillparticularly

supportyouth,womenanddisadvantaged

groups,includingpeoplewithdisabilitiestobecome

skillful

andto

connect

themto

labormarket.

Theproject

willhelpmodernize,

promote

coordination,

andbuildtheresilience

ofBangladesh’stechnical

vocational

education

andtraining

sector.inrecent

decades,

andincreasingadoptionoftechnological

solutionsbymajorindustries,Bangladeshwillneedto

prepare

itsyouth,thenew

entrantsinthejobmarket

withskillsthatareresponsive

to

changinglabormarketdemands.Skillsdevelopment

can

reduceunemploymentandunderemployment,increase

productivity,

andimprovelivingstandards.The

Government’s8thFiveYear

Planfor

2020-2025andSDGactionplanhaveidentif

edskillsdevelopment

asoneoftheeconomy’s6ACCELERATING

ANDSTRENGTHENING

SKILLS

FORECONOMIC

TRANSFORMATION

PROJECTCHALLENGEEXPECTED

RESULTSTo

maintainrobustgrowthmomentum,Bangladeshwillneedto

increaseworkforceproductivityoverthenexttwodecades.Therefore,theskillingoftheworkforcewillplayavitalroleinthefuturedevelopmentofthecountry.SkillsdevelopmentinBangladeshhasmadeprogress,butstillfacesasignif

cantmismatchbetweenthejobmarketdemandandsupply.Thevalue-addedperworkerinBangladeshisonly35percentofthelowermiddle-incomecountryaverage,fallingbehindmanySouthAsiancountriesinlaborproductivity.15%

increaseinemploymentratesofgraduatesfromproject-supportedshortcourses.15%

increaseinemployers’satisfactionlevelwiththeskillsofgraduatesfromproject-supporteddiplomaprograms.150,000vulnerableanddisadvantagedpeople,includingwomen,trainedand100,000(35%women)employed.Therearesevereshortagesoffuture-lookingandmarketdemand-drivenskillsdevelopmentinterventionsthatcanprovidere-skillingorup-skillingopportunitiesincoordinationbetweencentralagencies,privateindustries,andskillstrainingproviders.Prevailingsocialstigmaandnegativeperceptiontowardstechnicaleducationisalsoaddingto

theproblem.TheCOVID-19pandemicfurthercreated

a“digitaldivide,”

especiallyforwomenandthedisadvantaged,furtherimpactedjobsituation,particularlyforpooryouthandwomen.Thepandemichasmadearound20millionpeopletemporarilyjobless,outofthe60millionworkingintheinformalsector.Moreover,theskillsdevelopmentecosystemfacesarangeofcapacityconstraintswiththelackoflabormarketinformation,knowledgegeneration,anddigitization.Itneedssubstantialupgradingto

adaptto

thetechnologicalchangesinemergingsectors.520,000

(30%women)traineesskilledforfutureofwork.alsoprovedto

bepromisingto

enablejob-linkedtrainingopportunities.Thekeyprojectinterventionsincludetransformingformalskillsdevelopment;introducinginnovativeskillsdevelopmentprograms;enhancingsystemcapacityandsocialmarketing.Theactivitiesfocusonprovidingprogramgrantsto

diplomainstitutesandper-traineegrantsto

formalshortcourseinstitutesto

upgradefacilities,digitization,equipment,industrylinkage,pedagogy,teachertrainingetc;establishamodelpolytechnicinstitutetoimproveinternationalcompetitivenessinskilledlabor;buildpandemicresponseactionswithdigitaladaptation;recognizetheskillsofinformalsectorworkersthroughrecognitionofpriorlearning(RPL);andsocialmarketing,awarenessandjobplacementto

improvetheperceptionsandprospectsoftechnicaleducation.APPROACHTheASSETprojectdrawsupontheexperienceandlessonslearnedgloballyandfromtwoearlierWorldBanksupportedprojects:SkillsandTraining

EnhancementProject(STEP)andNorthernAreasReductionofPovertyInitiative(NARI).AdaptingthesuccessfulimplementationmechanismoftheSTEPproject,theASSETprojectutilizesaninnovativemulti-ministerialteamarrangement,wheretheDirectorateofTechnicalEducationoftheTechnicalandMadrasahEducationDivision,MinistryofEducationistheimplementingagency,andotherministriesjoinaspartnerimplementingagencies.NARIprojecthasshownthattargetedcommunicationcampaignswasinstrumentalinsupplementingthegovernment’sef

ortsinprovidingdedicated,f

exiblesupportto

vulnerableanddisadvantagedgroups,especiallywomen.Institutionaldevelopmentgrantprogramshaveprovenef

ectiveinstrengtheninginstitution-levelcapacityto

planandimplementimprovementactivities.Theleveragingofpublic-and-privatepartnershipTOWARDS

THEFUTUREASSETwillcomplementBangladesh’sprioritiesinhumancapitaldevelopmentforpovertyreductionandeconomicgrowth,aligningwiththe8thf

ve-yearplan,Government’sVision2041,theNationalSkillDevelopmentPolicy2020,andtheWorldBank’s

CountryPartnershipFramework.ASSETiswellalignedwiththeSDGgoalsofachievingdecentwork,economicgrowth,andqualityeducationforall.Higherinvestmentinskillsdevelopmentto

supporttheadoptionofnewtechnologieswithanemphasisondiversif

edandinclusiveskillsdevelopmentprogramswillcaterto

therapidlychangingskillsdemand.Thisprojectwillsupportpreservingandcreatingnewjobsto

ensuresustainablebusinessgrowth.T

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NHigher

Education

Acceleration

andTransformation

ProjectBASICAPPROVALDATE:ENDTOTALIMPLEMENTINGAGENCIES:University

Grants

CommissionDATE:COMMITMENT:INFORMATIONJune24December31$191million20212027Ministry

of

EducationTRANSFORMING

HIGHEREDUCATIONOVERVIEWDemandforhighereducationhasbeenrisinginBangladesh.Inrecentyears,thechangingnatureofwork,alongwithtechnologicalacceleration,hasincreasedthedemandforhigh-levelskillsandtechnicallyadaptableworkforce.Thoughfemaleenrolmentinhighereducationhasincreasedsignif

cantly,thereisalongwayto

go

forattaininggenderparity.Enhancingthecoverageofqualityofhighereducationandemployabilityofgraduates,especiallyforfemales,isahighpriorityforthegovernmentofBangladeshandthedevelopmentpartners.TheHigherEducationAccelerationandTransformation(HEAT)Projectaimsto

supportthegovernmentto

strengthentheCOVID-19responseinhighereducation,improveconnectivityandqualityofhighereducationforwomen,enhancehighereducation’sgovernance,resilienceto

emergencies,andgraduateemployability.8HIGHEREDUCATION

ACCELERATION

ANDTRANSFORMATION

(HEAT)

PROJECTCHALLENGEEXPECTED

RESULTSEvenbeforepandemic,therewereseveraldeeplyrootedchallengeswhichimpededtheef

ectivenessofhighereducationandthetransitionfromuniversity-to-work.Thisincludedstrongdemandamongyouthforhighereducationaccessandforforeignqualif

cations;limitedaccessto

andparticipationofwomen,andotherindividualsfromlowincomeanddisadvantagedgroups;poorqualityprogramsandskillsofgraduates;relevanceto

theneedsofthelabormarketandgraduateemployability;weakgovernanceandmanagementofhighereducationsystems;severef

nancingconstraints;andpoorqualityofresearchoutcomes,linkstoinnovationsystems,anduniversityindustrypartnerships.Femaleshareofenrolmentsacrossuniversitiesstoodataround42percentinBangladesh,considerablylowerthanothercountriesintheSouthAsiaregion.Theunemploymentrate

amongtertiaryeducationgraduatesofBangladeshstoodat11percent,muchhigherthanthenationalaveragerate

ofaround4percent.Genderdisparitiesinemploymentoutcomesamongtertiarygraduatesarequitepronouncedwithfemaleunemploymentrate

(21percent)nearlythreetimesashighasmales(8percent).Inaddition,researchfundinginBangladeshhasnotbeentailoredto

whatthemainstakeholdersconsiderto

bestrategicsectors.600,000

studentsinhighereducationwillbenef

t.60%

ofuniversitiesinBangladeshimplementingEmergencyResponseandRecoveryPlans.30

newlyaccreditedcoursesinuniversitiesundertheBangladeshAccreditationCouncil.APPROACHTheProjectisbuiltuponthesuccessofitspredecessorproject,HigherEducationQuality