Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (RRP BAN 55148)

PROGRAM ACTION PLAN

Responsible Time Frame for
Actions Agency Implementation
Area 1: Technical Aspects
1.1. For all proposals by implementing partners (e.g., industry SDCMU During program
associations, NGOs), be sure to (i) screen training providers based implementation
on past performance, (ii) conduct capacity assessments per SDCMU
templates, and (iii) avoid overlapping support with NHRDF programs.
1.2. For advanced technical skills training, be sure to (i) sign the MOUs SDCMU (i) MOUs by Sep
(or renew if existing) for international technical cooperation, including 2023
BITAC and STTLs; and (ii) sign formal agreements on technical and (ii) Support packages
capacity support packages. by Dec 2023
1.3. Develop M&E plans incorporating new advanced technical skills FD-MOF and By Jan 2024
aligned with outputs and DLIs, and have the final plan endorsed by SDCMU
the executive project director and national project director.
1.4. Prepare annual capacity development plans for (i) training of trainers SDCMU By Jan 2024 and
or management staff (separately for different skill levels, as needed); each year afterward
(ii) occupational health and safety; and (iii) financial management
staff of all training providers.
1.5. For EDC programs, sustainable institutional development plans SDCMU and By Dec 2026
(including financing with subsidies) developed by each university, EDC
discussed, and finalized with implementation timelines. universities
1.6. Plan for tracer and/or evaluation studies with TOR and start the SDCMU TOR ready by Mar
recruitment of qualified consulting firms to complete and disseminate 2026; consulting firm
the studies by Sep 2027. on board by Aug
2026
Area 2: Gender and Social Inclusion
2.1. Be sure to incorporate targeted training for women across skill levels, SDCMU Sep 2023–Dec 2024
which may include advanced technical skills (e.g., women’s
polytechnics), women business leadership training, and upskilling or
multi-skilling programs.
2.2. Women’s percentage for training courses will be (i) at least 15% for SDCMU During program
advanced technical courses (output 1), (ii) at least 15% for mid-level implementation
managerial courses (output 2), and (iii) at least 30% for entry- and
mid-level skills courses.
2.3. Ensure that any capacity building activities planned (e.g., leadership SDCMU During program
training, training of trainers) include at least 20% women. implementation
2.4. All new infrastructure development (e.g., training facilities, SDCMU During program
dormitories, classroom buildings) will have gender- and disability- implementation
friendly features, such as separate toilets, separate prayer rooms,
and ramps and rails in entry and access areas.
2.5. For social marketing, be sure to undertake awareness raising and SDCMU During program
outreach activities targeted at women and socially disadvantaged implementation
groups (e.g., people with disabilities, transgender people, and SECs)
for training participation.
2.6. Social marketing campaigns will prepare awareness materials (e.g., SDCMU During program
video clips, leaflets) that include positive images of women and implementation
socially disadvantaged groups; these will be disseminated through
workshops, focus groups, and mainstream media outlets.
2.7. Social marketing materials are provided to employers to promote SDCMU During program
employment for women and socially disadvantaged groups. implementation

2.8. All monitoring and progress reports, including semiannual progress SDCMU Jun 2024–Jun 2029
reports, should have data disaggregated by sex and other social
categories (e.g., SECs, poverty, disability) for enrollment, dropouts,
completion, and job placement.
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Responsible Time Frame for

Actions Agency Implementation
Area 3: Fiduciary Management
3.1. Create a dedicated program code for the RBL program to ease FD-MOF and By loan signing
accounting, monitoring, reporting, and auditing of the program’s SDCMU
financial transactions.
3.2. Appoint additional accountants and internal audit staff to support the FD-MOF and By Sep 2023
SDCMU. SDCMU
3.3. External audit: FD-MOF, (i) By Nov 2023
(i) Finalize the statement of audit need (see the PID) and request SDCMU, and (ii) 9 months from
the OCAG to include the RBL program in the annual audit plan. OCAG end of each fiscal
(ii) Ensure that the OCAG conduct annual financial audits of the year
program and submit audited program financial statements to ADB (iii) 45 days after end
within 9 months from the end of each fiscal year. of Jun and Dec
(iii) Incorporate the status of audit observations and implementation each year
as part of semiannual progress reports.
3.4. Internal audit: (i) SDCMU (i) By Nov 2023
(i) Prepare an annual internal audit work plan according to the risk- (ii) By Dec 2023 for
based audit approach. The scope will include identification and (ii) FD-MOF year 1; and 2
assessment of anticorruption and integrity risks relating to and months before
procurement, financial management, and effectiveness of internal SDCMU the start of each
controls. fiscal year for
(ii) Gain approval of the internal audit plan by the secretary of the (iii) SDCMU year 2 onward
FD-MO and/or national project director. (iii) 45 days after the
(iii) Incorporate the status of monitoring and reporting of internal end of Jun and
audit observations and recommendations into semiannual progress Dec each year
reports.
3.5. Performance audit: Two performance audits will be carried out in SDCMU and Jan 2024–Dec 2028
accordance with the agreed terms of reference to identify gaps and relevant audit
propose action plans among implementing partners in the overall agency (firm)
program’s management and training performance. Specific actions
include the following: (i) engage an independent auditor to carry out
performance audits by the end of 2024; (ii) start the audit from 2025
for the overall RBL program, including all implementing partners; (ii)
prepare the first report by June 2026; (iv) implement action plans by
the end of 2026; (v) start the second audit in 2027; and (vi) complete
the second performance audit by June 2028.
Area 4: Procurement
4.1. Additional experienced procurement consultant on board for timely FD-MOF and By Oct 2023
procurement activities. SDCMU
4.2. (i) Ensure the integration of annual procurement plans in the annual FD-MOF and (i) Annually
work plan for approval. SDCMU
(ii) Be sure to include ADB non-member country restrictions in the (ii) – (iv)
procurement plan and information on country of origin in the SDCMU During program
reporting template. implementation
(iii) Ensure compliance with the ADB sanctions list.
(iv) Ensure all conditions and modifications of the country system—
as described in PID section on procurement—for all procurement
under the RBL program.

4.3. Arrange training on e-GP by the CPTU for the SDCMU procurement SDCMU and By Dec 2023
team to shift to the use of e-GP for RBL program procurement. CPTU
4.4. Provide training to AEPDs, procurement staff, and other relevant SDCMU By Feb 2024 and
SDCMU staff to improve procurement planning and training contract periodically
management and to avoid delays in implementation.
4.5. Provide training on the national procurement rules and the RBL SDCMU By Feb 2024 and
program’s procurement procedures to private sector implementation periodically
partners, including universities.
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Responsible Time Frame for

Actions Agency Implementation
4.6. Conduct an annual procurement review for a sample of 30% of the SDCMU and Dec 2024 and
total contracts awarded in the respective year. ADB annually afterward
Area 5: Environment and Social Safeguards
5.1. Appoint a full-time environmental specialist in the SDCMU SDCMU By Dec 2023
engineering team during construction and a part-time specialist after
construction completion.
5.2. Ensure IEEs are prepared, shared with ADB, and disclosed as SDCMU As required
required; and ensure EMPs are available in Bangla at construction
sites.
5.3. Obtain an environmental clearance certificate for the 10-story building SDCMU As required
at East West University and ensure it is renewed annually.
5.4. Prepare semiannual environmental monitoring reports during SDCMU and During program
construction and annual reports during operation until the program is ADB implementation
financially closed for ADB’s review, approval, and disclosure.
5.5. For any activities in SEC areas, incorporate language and cultural SDCMU Sep 2023−Dec 2028
sensitivity in planning any schemes. In designing any training-related
schemes, carefully consider socioeconomic dimensions to avoid
unintended migration.
5.6. For all training-related data, be sure to have data disaggregated by SDCMU Sep 2023−Dec 2028
SEC beneficiaries and representatives.
5.7. Enhance existing grievance redress mechanisms to ensure SEC SDCMU By Dec 2023
representation in SEC areas.
Area 6: Monitoring and Evaluation System
6.1. (i) Expand and enhance the scope of the TMS by incorporating an SDCMU By Dec 2023
additional module to monitor advanced technical skills partners and
courses; (ii) align the training data along DLIs to track progress and
target achievement; and (iii) use the TMS to generate a report on
DMF monitoring and DLI verification.
6.2. To ensure robustness of TMS data, especially its accuracy and SDCMU (i) By Jun 2024
consistency for tracking DLI progress, (i) develop in-built and (ii) By Jun 2025 and
automated checks to flag inconsistencies in data entry and reporting, Jun 2027
and (ii) undertake a system audit of the TMS every other year and
resolve any issues in a timely manner.
6.3. TMS data will be used to produce analytic reports, with SDCMU Dec 2024–Dec 2028
disaggregated analysis by gender and socially disadvantaged group.
Area 7: Program Management
7.1. Program operation guidelines updated, including financial FD-MOF and By Oct 2023
management manual and anticorruption guidelines, and issued to all SDCMU
implementing partners and training partners.
7.2. All program action plans (including gender, social inclusion, and SDCMU During program
capacity development plans) implemented; progress and results are implementation
incorporated into semiannual progress reports.
ADB = Asian Development Bank, AEPD = assistant executive project director, BITAC = Bangladesh Industrial Technical
Assistance Center, CPTU = Central Procurement Technical Unit, DLI = disbursement-linked indicator, DMF = design
and monitoring framework, EDC = executive development center, e-GP = e-Government Procurement, EMP =
environmental management plan, FD-MOF = Finance Division in the Ministry of Finance, IEE = initial environmental
examination, M&E = monitoring and evaluation, MOU = memorandum of understanding, NGO = nongovernment
organization, NHRDF = National Human Resource Development Fund, OCAG = Office of the Comptroller and Auditor
General, PID = program implementation document, RBL = results-based lending, SDCMU = Skills Development
Coordination and Monitoring Unit, SEC = small ethnic community, STTL = smart textile technology living lab, TMS =
training management system, TOR = terms of reference.
Source: Asian Development Bank.