ADB, Bangladesh ink $150m deal for TVET job creation

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh have signed a $150 million loan agreement to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET), aiming to boost decent employment opportunities and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global market.

The agreement was signed on Sunday at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in Dhaka, with ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky representing Bangladesh and ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong representing the bank.

The results-based financing, under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Teachers for the Future Programme, will expand access to modern teacher training, particularly in underserved regions outside Dhaka. The initiative will also improve the pedagogical and technical skills of educators in emerging technologies, while strengthening systems for teacher development, management, and reporting.

Under the programme, at least 10,000 new and existing TVET teachers will receive advanced training, which is expected to benefit more than 250,000 students across Bangladesh.

Additionally, the programme will establish a nationwide system for continuous professional development, ensuring the sustained quality and relevance of TVET education.

ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong said the programme aligns with Bangladesh’s priorities for economic diversification and targets five key technology clusters: mechanical, electronics and electrical, information and communication technology, civil, and food and agriculture.

He added that the initiative will support the government’s agenda of creating jobs, reducing poverty, combating social exclusion, and enhancing access to decent employment—all aligned with Bangladesh’s Integrated TVET Development Action Plan (ITDAP).