Terms of Reference (ToR)

Title: Life Skills training (hands off) for adolescent and youth of plainland Adibashi, Dalits and other marginalized communities

1. Background:
Bangladesh has a large youth (15-29) and adolescent (10-19) population with roughly one-third of its total population struggle with resilience and soft skills, facing high unemployment rates, leading to emotional issues, low job prospects, and vulnerability, skill gaps, with a lack of quality education exacerbating these challenges due to the socioeconomic issues, quality of education and other vulnerabilities including lack of soft skills or cognitive skills. HEKS/EPER acknowledges that ensuring wellbeing is not possible without access to education, both formal and informal to address the gap in providing education to children and there is a huge portion of youths who are considered NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Without integrating adolescents and youth into education (formal/ informal) or employment, the sustainable development goal (SDG) targets or national targets are impossible to achieve.
In Bangladesh, HEKS/EPER has been implementing its country programme, with one of the major objectives of enhancing the socio-economic and cultural well-being of the Dalit, Adibashi, and other most marginalised communities in the north-western region of Bangladesh, targeting Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Chapai Nawabganj, and Naogaon districts.  Adibashi and Dalit communities face extreme social stigma and exclusion, which affects their socio-economic, cultural and general well-being. Due to the impacts of climate change, the vulnerability of these communities has been further exacerbated as they are losing their work opportunities and productive days.

The initiative focuses on economic recovery, skill development, education, child protection, and resilience for the plainland Adibashi, Dalits, and other most marginalized communities. One of the main purposes of the life skills training for the adolescent and youth is to empower them to address deep-rooted discrimination, limited opportunities, and social exclusion, equipping them with problem-solving, critical thinking, and vocational skills to overcome poverty, improved health, challenge social norms (like child marriage), and participate fully in society. The trainings will help bridge gaps left by traditional education and promoting inclusive development through their improved cognitive skills or ability.

Submission Deadline: before 5:00 PM, 31st December 2025.

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