RAISE Project

The Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) Project in Bangladesh is a five-year initiative launched in February 2022 by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation and the World Bank. It aims to enhance productivity and employment for over 225,500 low-income youth and COVID-19 affected micro-entrepreneurs in urban/peri-urban areas. The project focuses on skills training, apprenticeships, and financial assistance to boost economic resilience, with a total investment, including additional financing. Dak Diye Jai has been implementing the project since September 2025 as partner organization of PKSF.  

Project Duration: 5 Years (2022-2026)

Working Area: Urban & Pre-Urban Area of Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi and Barishal district.

Target People: Youth from low-income families and disadvantaged small entrepreneurs.

Project Goal:

The primary goal of the RAISE project is to enhance the access to earning opportunities, increase productivity, and foster the sustainable economic inclusion of low-income youth and micro-entrepreneurs in urban and peri-urban areas.

Specific Objectives of the Project

The project is focused on achieving the following specific objectives: 

  • Restore COVID-19 Affected Micro-Enterprises: Provide financial assistance on easy terms and capacity development support such as Risk Management and Business Continuity (RMBC) training to help informal sector micro-entrepreneurs recover from pandemic-related losses.
  • Enhance Capacity and Productivity: Improve the skills and productivity of youth and young micro-entrepreneurs through Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development (BMED) training.
  • Promote Sustainable Employment through Apprenticeships: Connect low-income youth with informal apprenticeships (“Ustad-shagred” system) to gain hands-on technical skills and facilitate their transition into wage or self-employment.
  • Reintegrate Returnee Migrants: Assist involuntarily returned migrants in re-entering the domestic economy through skill training and psychosocial support, managed by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB). 

Services Provided under the RAISE Project:

The RAISE Project provides a range of services to enhance employability and income-generating opportunities for youth and vulnerable groups. The major services include:

  1. Community Outreach and Mobilization
    Identification and selection of eligible beneficiaries through community outreach activities and awareness sessions.
  2. Skills Development Training
    Market-driven technical and vocational training based on demand-led trades and local labor market needs.
  3. Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training
    Practical training through apprenticeships with experienced Master Crafts Persons (MCPs) and enterprises.
  4. Life Skills and Soft Skills Training
    Training on communication, work ethics, financial literacy, decision-making, and workplace behavior.
  5. Occupational Health, Safety, and Safeguards Awareness
    Awareness on workplace safety, child labor prevention, gender equality, and environmental and social safeguards.
  6. Assessment and Certification
    Skills assessment and certification of trainees to enhance employability and recognition of competencies.
  7. Employment and Job Placement Support
    Support for wage employment, including job matching and linkage with employers.
  8. Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Support
    Guidance and support for self-employment, including business counseling and linkage with financial services.
  9. Post-Training Follow-up and Monitoring
    Regular follow-up to track employment outcomes, income improvement, and sustainability of results.

Technical Training Areas under Apprenticeship Activities:

  1. Electrical Installation & Maintenance
  2. Plumbing and Pipe fitting
  3. Masonry & Rod Binding
  4. Tiles and Marble Fittings
  5. Refrigeration & Air-conditioning
  6. Aluminum Fabrication
  7. Housekeeping, Food & Beverage Servicing
  8. Baking & Pastry Preparation
  9. Tour Operation & Tourist Guide
  10. Food & Beverage Production
  11. Web Design & Development
  12. Graphic Design & Multimedia
  13. Digital Marketing
  14. IT Support Technician
  15. Mobile Phone Servicing
  16. Welding and Fabrication
  17. Small Engineering and Metal Works
  18. Motorcycle Servicing
  19. Driving cum Auto Mechanics
  20. Fashion Garments/ Dress Making & Tailoring
  21. Mechanized Agricultural Farming
  22. Consumer Electronics
  23. Settling & Assembling of Leather Goods
  24. Care giving
  25. Beauty Care & Beautification
  26. Carpentry & Carpentry Business.