A new initiative in Bangladesh is highlighting the role of gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) in creating a more inclusive technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system. Policymakers, development partners, and skills training experts gathered in Dhaka to discuss how public investments can better support women and girls in accessing skills, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The expert session was organized by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) and the Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED), with technical support from the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ProGRESS project. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, development partners, and TVET institutions to strengthen gender considerations in skills planning and budgeting.
ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tuñón emphasized that public investment must lead to measurable improvements in women’s participation, training completion, and employment outcomes. He noted that gender-responsive budgeting is not only about allocating funds but ensuring that resources remove barriers preventing women from accessing skills development and decent work opportunities.
Experts at the session explained that GRB should not be viewed as a separate budget for women but as a method for making public spending more effective and equitable. The approach helps identify and address challenges that often limit women’s participation in skills training, including social barriers, transportation difficulties, childcare responsibilities, and unequal access to higher-paying technical careers.
A survey reviewed during the session showed progress in institutional commitment, with 67 percent of participating agencies reporting dedicated budget allocations for gender equality or social inclusion initiatives. However, gaps remain, particularly in tracking employment outcomes, retention rates, and dropout patterns among women in training programs.
The findings also revealed that many institutions still lack regular gender analysis, making it difficult to identify obstacles faced by women and design targeted solutions. Participants stressed the importance of stronger data systems and better use of gender-disaggregated information to improve accountability and program effectiveness.
The discussion concluded with recommendations to expand women’s access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communications technology (ICT) training, improve transport and childcare support, and extend gender-responsive approaches to informal workers and persons with disabilities.
The Gender and Skills Taskforce will now develop a roadmap to integrate gender-responsive budgeting into Bangladesh’s TVET planning and financing systems. Supported by the Government of Canada, the ILO ProGRESS project continues to work with national partners to strengthen skills development, promote gender equality, and expand access to decent employment opportunities.
