The Academy of Information Technology (AIT) has entered into a partnership with Swisscontact-Bangladesh under the PRABRIDDHI: Local Economic Development (LED) initiative to support the development of a sustainable, incentive-based skills development model in Cox’s Bazar.
The partnership brings together Swisscontact’s experience in local economic development and AIT’s capacity as a skills and training institution, creating a platform for collaborative intervention aimed at strengthening skills development in the local context.
A Partnership for Sustainable Skills Development
Under Contract No. SCBD/PRABRIDDHI/LED/208, Swisscontact and the Academy of Information Technology agreed to work together and share resources to implement an intervention focused on facilitating a sustainable, incentive-based skills development model in Cox’s Bazar.
The partnership is part of Swisscontact’s PRABRIDDHI: Local Economic Development (LED) initiative and is structured around a dedicated Terms of Reference, budget and payment schedule, and code of conduct.
For AIT, the collaboration represents an opportunity to contribute its training expertise to a broader local economic development initiative in Cox’s Bazar.
Connecting Skills Development with Local Economic Development
Skills development plays an important role in building a capable workforce and supporting local economic activity.
The PRABRIDDHI partnership takes this connection into consideration by focusing not simply on training delivery, but on developing a model that is intended to be sustainable and incentive-based.
Through its partnership with Swisscontact, AIT is positioned to participate in an intervention that connects skills development with the wider objectives of local economic development.
AIT’s Role in the Partnership
As the partner organization, AIT is working with Swisscontact to implement the agreed intervention.
The partnership contract identifies Mr. Nazmul Karim Farog, Chairman of AIT, as the representative of the Academy of Information Technology, while Mr. Markus Ehmann, Team Leader of PRABRIDDHI: Local Economic Development, represents Swisscontact-Bangladesh.
The contract establishes the responsibilities and framework for collaboration, with the detailed deliverables outlined in the accompanying Terms of Reference, Budget and Payment Schedule, and Code of Conduct.
Supporting Skills Development in Cox’s Bazar
Cox’s Bazar is an important regional center with diverse economic and workforce development needs. Developing sustainable approaches to skills training can help strengthen the connection between training institutions, local economic activity and employment-related opportunities.
Within this context, the AIT–Swisscontact partnership focuses on creating an incentive-based skills development model rather than treating skills training as an isolated activity.
The partnership therefore reflects a collaborative approach in which development organizations and local training institutions work together toward a shared objective.
A Significant Institutional Partnership
The total value of the partnership contract is
Under the agreement:
- Swisscontact contribution: 73%
- AIT contribution: 27%
The contract is valid from 1 August 2024 to 30 June 2025, with an option for Swisscontact to extend the contract period.
Collaboration, Reporting and Implementation
The partnership agreement provides for regular updates and progress reporting to the PRABRIDDHI Team Leader, alongside collaboration with the project’s senior management and implementation team.
The agreement also includes three key annexes:
- Terms of Reference (ToR)
- Budget & Payment Schedule
- Code of Conduct
Together, these documents establish the framework for implementing and managing the partnership.
AIT’s Commitment to Industry-Relevant Skills
The partnership with Swisscontact reinforces AIT’s commitment to practical and sustainable skills development.
By working alongside a development organization focused on local economic development, AIT is contributing its institutional capacity to a model that seeks to make skills development more sustainable and responsive to local economic realities.
The collaboration also demonstrates the value of partnerships between training institutions and development organizations in creating approaches to skills development that can be connected with broader economic development objectives.
Looking Ahead
The AIT–Swisscontact partnership under PRABRIDDHI represents a collaborative effort to strengthen the foundations of skills development in Cox’s Bazar.
With a shared focus on developing a sustainable, incentive-based skills development model, the partnership provides a framework for AIT and Swisscontact to combine resources, expertise and implementation capacity.
For the Academy of Information Technology, this collaboration is another step in its ongoing engagement with skills development initiatives that seek to connect learning, workforce capabilities and local economic development.
Project at a Glance
- Project: Sustainable, Incentive-Based Skills Development Intervention
- Program: PRABRIDDHI: Local Economic Development (LED)
- Partner: Swisscontact-Bangladesh
- Training Partner: Academy of Information Technology (AIT)
- Location: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
- Contract No.: SCBD/PRABRIDDHI/LED/208
- Contract Period: 1 August 2024 – 30 June 2025
Academy of Information Technology (AIT)
Building skills. Supporting opportunity. Strengthening local development.
