A high-level delegation from the World Bank (WB) visited field-level activities of the RAISE project in Dhamrai and Savar upazilas of Dhaka on 17 June 2025. As part of the visit, the delegation inspected various activities implemented through Partner Organizations and interacted with youths who received training under the project.

WB’s Senior Finance Officer Tipawan Bhutaprateep said that, this project provides opportunities to people to explore their potential and it was truly inspiring to witness firsthand the enthusiasm and pride of the micro-entrepreneurs in their work. “The impact they are making in their communities is incredible, and it’s heartening to see how lifting one person can have a ripple effect, lifting many others along with them,” she added. 

The visit began with a lively interactive session with entrepreneurs who received training organized by Society for Development Initiatives (SDI) under the project. The team then visited apprenticeship program implemented by Social Upliftment Society (SUS) and Village Education Resource Center (VERC) in Savar.

WB’s Senior Social Protection Economist and RAISE Task Team Leader Aneeka Rahman said that “RAISE demonstrates many dimensions of meaningful economic inclusion. Vulnerable youths are gaining the skills they need to secure dignified, well-paying jobs. Microenterprises are receiving vital inputs to grow and thrive.”

PKSF’s General Manager and RAISE Project Coordinator Dilip Kumar Chakravorty, Deputy Project Coordinator Golam Gilane, and other relevant officials accompanied the delegates.

The five-year $ 250 million Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) project is being jointly implemented by the World Bank and PKSF. The project seeks to enhance the skills and create employment opportunities for 183,000 youth and micro-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh’s informal sector.