How can public investments in skills development better support women and girls? This question was at the centre of an expert lecture session in Dhaka that brought together policymakers, development partners and TVET practitioners to explore how gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system in Bangladesh.
Organized by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) and the Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED), with technical support from the International Labour Organization's (ILO) ProGRESS project, the session convened representatives from 21 government ministries and agencies, employers' and workers' organizations, development partners, and TVET institutions. Held on 20 May 2026 under the framework of the Gender and Skills Taskforce (GST), the event focused on strengthening the integration of gender considerations into skills development planning and budgeting.
© ILO
From policy commitments to measurable results
Opening the session, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tuñón highlighted the importance of ensuring that public investments translate into tangible improvements in women's access to skills and employment opportunities.
"Bangladesh has made significant progress in expanding opportunities for women, but much more can be achieved when public investments are designed to remove the barriers that prevent women from accessing skills, decent jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities," he said. "Gender-responsive budgeting is not simply about allocating resources - it is about ensuring that investments lead to tangible improvements in women's participation, completion and employment outcomes." - Max Tuñón, Country Director, ILO Bangladesh
Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Daud Miah, who attended as Chief Guest, emphasized that the effectiveness of public spending should be measured by its impact on the lives of women and girls.
"We need to examine whether our investments are reaching the women and girls they are intended to benefit. With increasing public investment in skills development, we have a unique opportunity to ensure that no woman is left behind." - Daud Miah, Secretary, TMED, Ministry of Education
Gender-responsive budgeting as a tool for systemic change
The session featured technical presentations by Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Dr. Nadira Sultana, Joint Secretary of the Finance Division, who shared insights on integrating gender perspectives into public finance management.
Dr. Khatun underscored that gender-responsive budgeting should not be viewed as a separate allocation for women, but as a framework for improving the effectiveness and equity of public spending.
"Gender-responsive budgeting is not a separate budget for women," she noted. "It is a way of ensuring that public resources are allocated and used in a manner that addresses the different needs and realities of women and men - particularly in non-traditional occupations."
The discussions highlighted how gender-responsive budgeting can help address barriers that often limit women's participation in skills training and employment, including social norms, limited access to transport, childcare responsibilities, and underrepresentation in higher-paying technical occupations.
© ILO
Survey reveals progress and persistent gaps
Participants also reviewed findings from a survey conducted involving Gender and Skills Taskforce member-institutions to assess the current status of gender-responsive budgeting practices within the TVET sector.
The survey revealed encouraging signs of institutional commitment, with 67 per cent of participating agencies reporting dedicated budget allocations for gender equality or social inclusion initiatives.
However, significant gaps remain. While many institutions collect sex-disaggregated enrolment data, only a small proportion systematically monitor employment outcomes, retention rates or dropout patterns. The findings also showed that 60 per cent of institutions had not conducted a gender analysis during the past two years, limiting their ability to identify and address barriers faced by women and girls.
Participants agreed that stronger evidence systems and more consistent use of gender data are critical for designing effective interventions and ensuring accountability.
Building a roadmap for a more inclusive TVET system
The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion on priority actions needed to strengthen gender-responsive budgeting across the skills sector.
Key recommendations included improving accountable and sex-disaggregated data reporting, conducting regular gender impact assessments, increasing investments in STEM and ICT training opportunities for women, and improving access to transport and childcare services. Participants also emphasized the importance of extending gender-responsive approaches to informal workers and persons with disabilities.
The Gender and Skills Taskforce will now develop a practical roadmap for integrating gender-responsive budgeting into TVET planning and budgeting processes. The roadmap will be submitted to the National Steering Committee for consideration and further action.
With funding assistance of the Government of Canada, the ProGRESS project supports the Government of Bangladesh in strengthening the governance, quality and inclusiveness of the national skills development system, with a particular focus on promoting gender equality and decent work outcomes.
