Save the Children in Bangladesh, with support from Unicef, hosted the "From Aspiration to Achievement: National Summit on Young Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership" on Wednesday in Dhaka.
Held under the Promotion of Women’s Empowerment and Resilience Building (Power) Project, the landmark summit brought together policymakers, government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and young women.
The event focused heavily on supporting adolescent girls and young women, particularly those not in education, employment, or training, by strengthening their economic participation, leadership, and resilience.
The day's high-level proceedings also featured remarks from special guest Deepa Sankar, chief of education for Unicef Bangladesh.
Highlighting the critical importance of education and skill development for youth empowerment in Bangladesh, she emphasized that non-formal education and skill training programs should no longer be viewed merely as alternative pathways, but integrated as vital components of the mainstream education system.
Another special guest Kazi Moklesur Rahman, additional secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and project director of the Earn Project, highlighted the scope for institutional synergy.
He expressed his keen interest in integrating the learnings and achievements of Save the Children's Power project into the Ministry’s key initiatives, including the government's Earn project.
Mahdi Amin, adviser to the prime minister, honored the event as chief guest.
He stated that initiatives like Save the Children's Power project inspire the government to further drive the national growth narrative, particularly in youth and women's empowerment.
Emphasizing practical skill application over formal degrees, he noted: "Building practical skills is far more critical than merely acquiring academic certificates. The government is committed to collaborating with development partners like Save the Children to create such practical learning opportunities."
The day-long program featured an inaugural ceremony highlighting inspirational personal journeys shared directly by young women participants, followed by policy dialogues and panel discussions.
Sessions throughout the day centered on strengthening the ecosystem for young women's economic empowerment and bridging the gap between youth and employers for the future of work.
Through collaborative networking, exhibitions, and strategic discussions, the summit sought to chart clear pathways for advancing young women's economic independence and long-term leadership across Bangladesh.