Since the 1990s, Bangladesh has made steady development progress and aims to achieve middle-income status by 2031 and become an industrialised nation by 2041. However, economic growth has not sufficiently translated into formal employment, particularly for youth and women. In 2024, frustration over limited job prospects culminated in mass protests, triggering political upheaval. Women's participation in the formal sector remains low at 4.6% (compared to 17.7% for men), and gender pay gaps persist.
Many workers face unsafe conditions. Meanwhile, international compliance demands, particularly from the EU, are rising. Regulations such as the Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) require robust risk management and adherence to human rights and environmental standards. For Bangladesh to remain competitive and access high-value markets, the country must improve industrial and environmental safety and build related expertise.
The core problem is that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Bangladesh is not sufficiently equipped to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the field of industrial and environmental safety.
At the same time, rapid economic growth in Bangladesh, has increased demand for affordable electricity. Renewable Energy (RE) is intended to play a central role in future energy generation. While RE accounts for about 5% of installed capacity, it contributes less than 2% to actual electricity generation. The national target is 40% RE in the energy mix by 2041. However, the TVET system is not adequately prepared for this transformation. A significant increase in skilled labour is required, including professionals for planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of RE technologies, as well as for energy efficiency and management.
Despite recent reforms, many TVET programmes remain outdated and overly theory-oriented. In addition, there is a shortage of qualified trainers with relevant practical experience and cooperation mechanisms between TVET institutions and companies are insufficiently developed.
In this context, GIZ Project "Professional Education in Industrial and Environmental Safety" (PRECISE) focuses at supporting of practice- and demand-oriented TVET in the field of industrial and environmental safety that are closely aligned with EU sustainability requirements. The "Vocational Training in the Field of Renewable Energy" (TVET4RE) project, for its part, supports the alignment of Bangladesh"s TVET system with the emerging labour-market demand in the sustainable energy sector.
PRECISE is structured into 3 outputs:
1) Steering capacities for better cooperation between TVET institutions and industry
2) Capacity Development for the implementation of cooperative TVET programmes in industrial and environmental safety
3) Transition to practical vocational training/employment for girls/women
TVET4RE has 4 outputs:
1) Improved information base on supply and demand in TVET
2) Capacity development for TVET stakeholders
3) Improved secondary/higher secondary TVET
4) Improved diploma programmes
The joint tender procedure ensures that both projects support the political partner, the Ministry of Education (MoE), in a consistent and coordinated manner, combining elements of PRECISE and TVET4RE:
- The adaptation and development of occupational/competency standards and curricula with regard to industrial and environmental safety, as well as sustainable energy
- Training of teaching and management staff
- Development of teaching and learning materials
- Establishment of structured cooperation mechanisms between piloting TVET institutions and companies
- Support of implementation of revised programmes and courses at the piloting training institutions (Polytechnic Institutes and Vocational Schools)