StanChart, UNICEF launch digital skills programme

Business Report :

Standard Chartered Bangladesh and UNICEF have launched a two-year initiative to equip 30,000 young people – including marginalised youth and persons with disabilities – with financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sales skills, aiming to boost their employability and support Bangladesh’s economic growth.

The agreement for the initiative was signed by Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, and Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh.
The education programme will be delivered via Generation Unlimited’s (GenU) Passport to Earning (P2E) platform, aiming to provide participants – at least half of whom will be young women – with the skills and opportunities to secure meaningful employment or start their own businesses.

The programme will feature online courses complemented by assessments, certifications, blended learning delivery, and mentorship. Targeted campaigns will ensure participation from marginalised communities, including young people with disabilities, while mobile-first and offline options will help overcome connectivity barriers, says a press release.

At least 6,000 graduates are expected to secure employment across sectors such as ICT, retail, FMCG, and financial services, gaining not only technical skills but also confidence and financial knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market.

“This collaboration with UNICEF enables us to provide over 30,000 young people, especially young women from marginalised communities, with the skills they need to succeed in the modern workforce. Through training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and sales, and by connecting learners with employers across sectors, we aim to equip them to secure meaningful employment and build businesses, contributing directly to Bangladesh’s economic growth and long-term development,” said Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, added, “In Bangladesh today, more than 800,000 graduates are unemployed, indicating a mismatch between the skills young people gain through traditional education and the real needs of the job market.

For young women, the challenge is even greater. Through this partnership, UNICEF will introduce the Passport to Earning initiative under the global Generation Unlimited programme, reaching 30,000 marginalised youth, especially girls and young people with disabilities, with the confidence and skills to turn their education into real opportunities, opening doors to jobs, livelihoods, and independence.”