ADB provides $1.34 million to avoid skills trainees’ drop out due to Covid-19 lockdown

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on April 1, provided $1.3 million financial assistance to avoid trainees from dropping out of the ongoing training under Skills for Employment Investment program (SEIP).

The SEIP is providing sector-focused and job-ready skills training through partnerships with public institutes, industry associations and other organizations, covering skills requirements in 10 industry sectors. 
 
"Each of the 22,619 current trainees will get Tk5,000 as one-time assistance," said ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash. 

"The Covid-19 pandemic has caused adverse impacts on the trainees' livelihood and this assistance will help the trainees to continue their training as they are from poor households and chances of their dropping out are high due to the prolonged Covid-19 lock down." 

"We have requested the government to transfer the money timely to the trainees through their bank accounts", Parkash added. 

The assistance is additional to the $350,000 emergency grant approved on March 27, and other ADB support package is being put together in the health and financial sectors for tackling Covid-19 challenges in Bangladesh.

ADB has announced measures to help its developing member countries tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

On March 18, ADB announced a $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

An emergency grant of $350,000 was approved on March 27 to support Bangladesh to procure health safety materials including personal protective gears, N95 masks, safety googles, aprons, thermometers, and biohazard bags. 

The organisation committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.