Twenty retail executives and BRAC collaborate

In order to enhance work prospects for underprivileged urban youth throughout Bangladesh, BRAC’s Skills Development Programme has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 20 top retail organizations to undertake the Retail Sales Apprenticeship Project. On Thursday, January 29, the MoU signing event was held at the BRAC Center in Dhaka.

About 2,000 young people from the divisions of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and Sylhet will be involved in the program, especially ladies from lower-income homes. Following a two-day boot camp that covers fundamental retail skills, customer service, communication, and workplace ethics, participants will work as apprentices for a month at partner retail locations. After that, BRAC will help participants find employment in the partner companies.

The MoU was signed by Safi Rahman Khan, Director of Education, Skills Development and Migration Programme at BRAC, along with senior leadership representatives from the participating retail employers. Partner organisations include Apex Footwear Limited, Top Ten Mart, Cats Eye Limited, Bissorong, Amana Big Bazar Ltd., RISE, among others. Through these partnerships, the organisations have committed to expanding apprenticeship opportunities, strengthening job placement outcomes, and promoting decent and inclusive work practices across the retail sector.

Evidence highlights the effectiveness of BRAC’s retail skills training model, particularly for young women entering the workforce. An impact study conducted by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and BRAC University in 2023 found that trained participants were more confident and better prepared for retail employment than those who did not receive the training. Participants reported stronger decision-making ability, clearer communication, and greater self-confidence, with the gains being more pronounced among women. The study also recorded improved income outcomes, with female trainees earning an average of BDT 1,829 more per month, which is more than double the increase observed among women in the comparison group.

By combining skills training with real workplace exposure and employer demand, the Retail Sales Apprenticeship Project attempts to prepare industry-ready youth and provide sustainable career pathways in Bangladesh’s burgeoning retail sector.