A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled “Assessment of the Financing Options for Sustainable Financing Models in Skills Development” was conducted by SkillFUL on July 4, 2012 at Terre des hommes Foundation, Kurigram.

The main idea of the event was to facilitate networking and linkages among training service providers (TSPs) and other economic actors and also to find modalities that would allow financing the skills training through locally available funding sources contributing to the financial sustainability of skills training efforts in Bangladesh.

A total of 27 participants from TSPs, Banks, Micro-finance institutions (MFI) and relevant government institutions along with the project teams were present in the FGD. The TSPs discussed and expressed their demand about financial support and their need of loan facilities for developing infrastructure, purchasing tools and equipment and hire good instructors to establish as quality training service providers and also for the trained graduates for self-employment. Financers like Banks, MFI and relevant government institutions described about their financial support services. Upazila Social Welfare Officer Mr. S. M. Habibur Rahman said, trained people of these TSPs can take loan from Upazila Social Welfare Office without any interest according to the government rules.

Finally, the participants especially from the TSPs appreciated the effort of SkillFUL. They said they could learn about the financing options directly from the financing agencies. The financing agencies also learnt regarding the training services, which can be an opportunity for access to finance.