Current Project

I2i Programme:

The Innovation to Inclusion (i2i) is a programme, funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and managed by a consortium led by pan disability charity Leonard Cheshire. It is designed to improve access to waged employment in the private sector for women and men with disabilities. The programme is being implemented in Kenya and Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet).

The objectives of the programme are:

Employment for 1000 women and men with disabilities.
Work with private sector, government and empowerment / job market readiness of people with disabilities.
Emphasis on harnessing technology driven solutions

Picture of i2i consortium logo

IW Programme:

Inclusion Works is a programme designed to improve access to waged employment in the private sector for women and men with disabilities. The programme is being implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Gazipur, Narsingdi). It is funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and managed by a consortium led by Sightsavers Bangladesh Country Office (Sightsavers) and ADD International Bangladesh (ADD).

Inclusion Works represents one of the world’s most comprehensive attempts to date to redress the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in formal employment in developing countries. It will pilot new approaches that will create job opportunities for over 2,000 people with disabilities. Inclusion Works aims to work in partnership with over 100 employers to test new practices that are compliant with UN disability rights protocols.

Under this Inclusion works Programme, BBDN manages the employer engagement aspect, which includes relationship management of employers, on-boarding employers to the Programme and supporting employers with application of a self or guided assessment, application of the standard Inclusion Works employer disability confidence tools and approaches, arranging employers and job seekers exchange, facilitating“ First-shot” internships and job placements for job seekers with disabilities and arranging 5 job fairs in Dhaka, Khulna & Chittagong.

Logo of Inclusive Futures, ADD International, BBDN and Sightsavers

RETURN TO WORK AND REHABILITATION STRATEGY:

Return to Work and Rehabilitation is on one hand a social and human rights issue and on the other, it is linked to policies and occupational health matters that have economic implications. i.e. the duty-free GSP status that Bangladesh enjoys with the EU will be impacted if we are not able to address the labour rights issues by 2027.

BBDN’s Role:

Develop and finalize the Rehabilitation and Return to Work (RTW Strategy) with stakeholder inputs.
Develop an implementation plan for the strategy.
Identify appropriate stakeholders to take the strategy forward.
Build capacity of employers to manage Return to Work process.

Logo of GIZ

Logo of BBDN

Skills 21 Project:

Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) is working with ILO Bangladesh Country office for implementing a project on providing Technical Assistance to Promote Social Inclusion Strategy in Seven (7) Model Institutes and Two (02) Centre for Skills Excellence under the European Union-funded Skills 21 – Empowering Citizens for Inclusive Sustainable Growth Project.

The Project aims to increase productivity and better employment opportunities for youth through institutionalizing an environmentally conscious, inclusive, demand-driven, and interlinked education and skills development system responding to the needs of the labour market. The Project targets to build the capacity of relevant government agencies, education and training institutions, learners, workers and employers with a particular focus on disadvantaged groups. It will enhance the market-relevance and effectiveness of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system with the following three interrelated outcomes:

Outcome 1. Improve Quality of the TVET/Skills Development System

Outcome 2. Improved Access to and Equity within the TVET/Skills Development System through TVET Model Institutions

Outcome 3. Improve Governance and Management of the TVET/Skills Development System

The Project supports the nine (9) project-supported institutions, Bangladesh Sweden Polytechnic Institute, Kaptai; Khulna Mahila Polytechnic Institute; Institute of Marine Technology, Bagerhat; Gaibandha Technical Training Center; Feni Polytechnic Institute; Jamalpur Technical School and College, Jamalpur; Sylhet Technical School & College, Sylhet; Technical Teachers Training College, Tejgaon; and Vocational Teachers Training Institute, Bogura to deliver teachers’ training and skills programs that focus on inclusive strategies for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups including women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples (IPs).

Logo of ILO

Logo of BBDN

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