Hope at Home: How Bangladesh’s RAISE Project Is Rewriting the Jobs Story for Thousands

In Bangladesh, where 85 percent of employment is rooted in the informal sector, the path to economic stability for millions remains fraught with low productivity and insufficient wages. As the country approaches a pivotal demographic shift, with youth projected to make up half of the working-age population by 2028, the urgency of addressing youth unemployment has become increasingly clear. Adding to this complex scenario is Bangladesh’s reliance on international migration, with nearly one million citizens seeking work overseas each year, often earning three to four times more than they would at home. However, the benefits come at a high cost. Prospective migrants frequently deplete their life savings or take out burdensome loans to finance their journey abroad. When COVID-19 struck, demand for labor abroad collapsed, forcing hundreds of thousands of migrants to return. Many arrived home with crushing debt, social stigma, and limited prospects for reintegration. In response, the Bangladesh Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) project was born. Backed by a $200 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and guided by research inputs from the Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), and the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), RAISE was designed to tackle these twin challenges head-on.

Reaching the Forgotten: Community-Based Employment Services

The RAISE initiative has already reached 280,000 individuals from vulnerable groups, delivering targeted services through a decentralized and community-rooted approach. One of the program’s standout achievements is the establishment of 31 district welfare centers to support more than 140,000 returning migrant workers. These centers provide integrated services including counseling, psychosocial aid, a one-time cash transfer, and referrals to job training and employment programs. The support doesn’t end with financial relief. These centers function as lifelines, places where migrants can rebuild their self-worth and re-enter the labor market with renewed confidence and skills. Simultaneously, the program has brought critical services to young job seekers in urban and peri-urban areas, offering informal apprenticeships, technical and business training, microfinance access, and life skills development. Over 17,200 youth have completed apprenticeships, with close to 90 percent securing employment or launching microenterprises. These services are delivered through a widespread network of local partners, ensuring that assistance is responsive to local needs and deeply embedded in community contexts.

Entrepreneurs Rising: Supporting Small Business Growth

A key pillar of the RAISE project is its support for microentrepreneurs, individuals who form the economic backbone of Bangladesh’s informal sector. Nearly 115,000 microentrepreneurs have been assisted in scaling up their operations, receiving support that includes business planning tools, access to finance, and training in enterprise management. This support has led to tangible outcomes: some businesses have expanded enough to create new employment opportunities for others in their communities. The model is designed not only to provide capital but also to strengthen the underlying skills that ensure long-term sustainability. One compelling story comes from Farzana Akter, a young business owner who emphasized that while a loan allowed her to grow her enterprise, it was the training she received that truly made a difference, helping her understand how to manage money, plan strategically, and remain resilient in the face of challenges.

From Despair to Direction: Human Stories of Transformation

The human impact of RAISE is perhaps its most powerful legacy. For individuals like Asid Miah, a returned migrant worker, the program has been life-changing. “I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I had failed,” he shared. “The project was like a lifeline for me. The counselling and guidance I received from RAISE helped me regain my confidence and find a new direction.” These stories illustrate that the project is about more than economic indicators; it’s about restoring dignity and offering a path forward. The initiative has been particularly effective for women, with nearly 45,000 new or improved job opportunities created for them. This gender-inclusive approach aligns with Bangladesh’s national development priorities and represents a major step toward narrowing the gender gap in labor force participation.

Scaling for the Future: A Model Ready to Expand

RAISE’s agile and adaptive implementation model positions it well for rapid scaling. Its structure allows for coordination with a diverse range of stakeholders, banks, vocational institutions, healthcare providers, and legal aid organizations, ensuring that beneficiaries can access a wide suite of services tailored to their individual needs. With further investment, the program could expand its reach even more effectively. The introduction of additional employment support officers and case managers would strengthen the system’s ability to serve larger populations. Moreover, future iterations of the program could incorporate global skills partnerships, enabling newly trained youth to access better-paying jobs abroad in a structured, cost-effective, and safer manner. Strengthening private sector linkages for labor intermediation would also improve job placement outcomes, making the transition from training to employment smoother and more impactful.

Ultimately, the RAISE project stands as a powerful example of how targeted, community-rooted, and inclusive interventions can rewire an economy from the bottom up. In a country where informality and migration intersect with youth unemployment and economic vulnerability, RAISE doesn’t just provide aid, it paves the way for transformation. Anchored in evidence, supported by diverse partnerships, and focused on people, the initiative has set a new bar for employment programs in South Asia and beyond.