Germany to provide 22.17m Euro to Bangladesh, MoUs signed

Germany will provide a total of 22.17 million Euro support to Bangladesh including grants against five projects in the areas of higher education, skills
development and acquiring digital skills.

In this regard, five Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on technical cooperation agreement on (i) Higher Education and Leadership Development for Sustainable Textiles (HELD), (ii) Skills Development for Sustainable Energy Solutions (Skills4SE), (iii) Skills for self-monitoring and Compliance with Clean and Fair Production in the Textile Industry in Bangladesh (SCAIP), (iv)
Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S), (v) Energising Development (EnDev), amounting 22.17 million EUR were signed today between the government of Bangladesh and the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the Government of
the Federal Republic of Germany.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Divisions, and Dr. Andreas Kuck, Country Director, GIZ Bangladesh, signed the five MoUs.

The details of the projects are as follows: 1. Higher Education and Leadership Development for Sustainable Textiles (HELD) where the total fund is 7,780,000 EUR. University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Ministry of Education will implement the project.

The project aims to strengthen application-oriented competencies of future specialists and managers of the textile industry in sustainable corporate management.

The project is promoting sustainability curricula at the College, Bachelor and Master level, making sure social and environmental topics are introduced in TVET, including in teachers’ training. On-the-job training in sustainability management is also being made available to young professionals in the textile and related industries.

Scopes will be there to generate social dialogue involving young trade unionists in collaboration
with the Academy of Work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

2. Skills Development for Sustainable Energy Solutions (Skills4SE). Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will implement the project with a SREDA
grant amount of 5,000,000 EUR.

The Skills4SE project aims to enhance the technical and vocational education opportunities for
the sustainable energy sector, in line with the current and future requirements of the market.

The project is working to develop a common understanding of training needs, expand the range
and quality of training programmes for selected job profiles, and ensure that the technical and
infrastructural conditions necessary for gender-sensitive programmes are created in the area of
energy efficiency and grid-connected renewable energy.

GIZ, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
(BMZ), is supporting the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in implementing the project running from 2023 to 2026.

3. Skills for self-monitoring and Compliance with Clean and Fair Production in the Textile Industry in Bangladesh (SCAIP). The Ministry of Commerce is implementing the project with a grant amount of 7,000,000 EUR.

The SCAIP project seeks to improve the monitoring of safety, labour and environmental standards in the textile and garment industry in Bangladesh by the Ready-Made Garment Sustainability Council (RSC).

4. Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S) Objective: The regional project, Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (running from 2023 to 2025), with a fund of EUR 382,526, aims to enhance the capacities of higher education institutions, fostering the sustainable implementation of improved study programmes.

GIZ is implementing the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project’s central focus is the establishment of a
higher education network, encompassing higher education institutions and research institutions in
Bangladesh, Viet Nam, and India, as well as further international partner universities.

5. Energising Development (EnDev) Partner Power Division is implementing the project with a SREDA grant amount:2,000,000 EUR.

The EnDev supports the provision of client and clean cooking as well as productive use of solar energy technology.

The programme supports the development of markets for modern energy facilities, including e-
cooking appliances and biomass based improved cooking technologies, and solar battery charging
of e-rickshaws.

GIZ is supporting the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to implement the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development (BMZ).