A government-run inclusive employment ICT-platform used by several countries

Solution
National Intelligence for Skills, Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship
Organization
a2i - Aspire To Innovate
Country of Implementation
Bangladesh
Region
Asia & Pacific
Subregion
South Asia
Start Year
2021
First published
03.12.2024

Bangladesh's NISE project facilitated 2,000 employments for persons with disabilities by 2024. It offers career guidance, skill development, and job fairs through its inclusive ICT platform backed by UNDP.

In a conference room, a diverse group of people, including a woman using a wheelchair and others from various backgrounds, are engaged in a discussion. A woman speaks passionately into a microphone held by a man seated beside her. The room exudes a collaborative and respectful environment focused on accessibility and empowerment. This scene emphasizes the values of equality, justice, and inclusion, highlighting the importance of amplifying voices within the disability community.
A public sector system promotes skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

Solution details

People

Md. Afzal Hossain SARWAR Website
“NISE empowers individuals with disabilities to connect, grow, and pursue their ambitions like never before.” Vashkar Bhattacharjee, National Consultant Accessibility, a2i – Aspire to Innovate

The National Intelligence for Skills, Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship (NISE) project, administered by the Bangladesh Government and backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to enhance public services through digital means. NISE is an innovative ICT platform that connects the labour market’s demand and supply sides, offering disability-inclusive self-assessment, career guidance, skills development, and job fairs. By mid-2024, NISE has facilitated the employment of over 2,000 individuals with disabilities in Bangladesh and four other countries.

Problems Targeted

High unemployment rates and skills mismatch are common among persons with disabilities, as are limited access to inclusive career guidance, skills development, and employment opportunities.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

a2i – Aspire to Innovate serves as the primary government agency overseeing the development, management, and strategic direction of the NISE platform, ensuring that it aligns with national objectives for inclusive employment and digital transformation. The NISE – ICT platform operates under a collaborative framework led by the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh, in cooperation with 23 other ministries and 32 government departments. This unique public sector system delivers skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. In addition, a2i provides disability-focused job fairs, inclusive self-assessment tools, and a variety of accessible digital resources. The NISE platform offered by a2i is designed as a hub for job seekers, employers, and skill service providers, including self-assessment and career guidance, skills development, and employment linkage. The platform is WCAG 2.1-certified and has facilitated the employment of over 2,000 individuals with disabilities across various professions, particularly in ICT, marketing, and insurance sectors, as well as promoting self-employment in fields such as mobile phone servicing and wood-crafting. Through its partnerships, a2i has expanded NISE’s model internationally to Jordan, Ghana, Somalia, and São Tomé and Príncipe, fostering global knowledge-sharing on inclusive employment practices. NISE has received support from UNDP Bangladesh and was recognized as a Global Best Practice by the UNDP Chief Digital Office in 2021.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

From 2024 until 2029, NISE aims to register 100,000 persons with disabilities and provide market-driven skills development to 50,000 persons with disabilities. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Media

Pictures

In a conference room, a diverse group of people, including a woman using a wheelchair and others from various backgrounds, are engaged in a discussion. A woman speaks passionately into a microphone held by a man seated beside her. The room exudes a collaborative and respectful environment focused on accessibility and empowerment. This scene emphasizes the values of equality, justice, and inclusion, highlighting the importance of amplifying voices within the disability community. A public sector system promotes skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
In a conference room, a diverse group of people, including a woman using a wheelchair and others from various backgrounds, are engaged in a discussion. A woman speaks passionately into a microphone held by a man seated beside her. The room exudes a collaborative and respectful environment focused on accessibility and empowerment. This scene emphasizes the values of equality, justice, and inclusion, highlighting the importance of amplifying voices within the disability community. A public sector system promotes skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

Related information

Connections
2

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

Bangladesh

Region of Implementation

Asia & Pacific