Assessment of Skills Demand and Skills Gaps in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Industry of Bangladesh
RAPID convened a two-day field engagement in Baraigram, Natore, on 20–21 August 2025 under the initiative Gender-Responsive and Climate-Resilient Solutions for Urban Areas in Bangladesh, in collaboration with ARUP, commissioned by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA).
The first day featured Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with working women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, alongside Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with municipal and community stakeholders. These sessions provided grounded insights into how rapid urbanisation and climate change are shaping vulnerabilities across social groups.
The second day culminated in a multi-stakeholder workshop, inaugurated by Ms Laila Jannatul Ferdous, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Baraigram, as Chief Guest, and attended by local government officials, municipal leaders, and community representatives. Deliberations focused on practical strategies to strengthen urban resilience while embedding gender equality and inclusion in local planning and service delivery.
The discussions will contribute to evidence-based recommendations for building sustainable and climate-resilient urban systems in multiple pourashavas in Bangladesh.
On 4 August 2025, RAPID, in collaboration with Arup, hosted a workshop in Ullapara with Mr Abu Salah Mohammad Hasnat, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), as Chief Guest; Dr M Abu Eusuf, Executive Director, RAPID, as the keynote speaker; and experts including Professor Salma Akhter, Professor Nazrul Islam, and Mr Mike Henderson from the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). Following the workshop, a focus group discussion was held with local officials, who presented their work and shared insights. The session included participatory exercises to promote active engagement and collaborative problem-solving.
On 3 August 2025, RAPID, in collaboration with ARUP, conducted three focus group discussions in Ullapara Pourashava, Sirajganj, engaging working women, youth and adolescents, elderly women, and women with disabilities. The sessions aimed to assess how climate hazards affect their daily lives and to identify priority areas for intervention. The discussions placed particular emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience strategies with a strong gender focus. Additionally, the teams conducted two key informant interviews (KII) with local community leaders.