Mr. Mohd. Abdul Mannan is a seasoned development professional and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) expert with over 26 years of operational and strategic experience. He currently serves as the Director of Programme and Innovations at UCEP Bangladesh, a leading non-governmental organization dedicated to skills development and employment generation. Throughout his career, he has spent over two decades deeply embedded in the TVET and education sectors across both national and international NGOs.
Educational Background His multidisciplinary academic foundation combines engineering principles with advanced development studies:
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Master of Development Studies (MDS): BRAC University.
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Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET).
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Post-Graduate Diploma in ICT: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
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Certifications: Certified Project Management Professional (PMD Pro-1 & 2).
Professional Experience & Leadership Mr. Mannan’s career trajectory demonstrates a strong progression from hands-on engineering to high-level program leadership and policy execution:
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UCEP Bangladesh (Present & 2003–2012): Rejoined UCEP in January 2023 as Director of Programme and Innovations. Previously, he was highly involved in the organization’s technical frameworks, leading the Technical Education Component from 2008 to 2012 as Manager (Technical Education).
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BASIS & SEIP Program: Served as one of the Chief Coordinators of the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP)—a major Government of Bangladesh initiative under the Ministry of Finance—managed at the Bangladesh Association for Software and Information Services (BASIS).
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Save the Children Bangladesh: Spent approximately 10 years directing and advising various high-impact TVET projects funded by major global donors, including the European Commission (EC), FCDO (formerly DFID), DFAT, and the World Bank. His final role there was Advisor (TVET and CSR).
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Corporate Sector: Began his career in 1995 as a plant engineer in the private textile industry, providing him with vital, frontline insights into industrial demands, machinery operations, and workforce requirements.
Core Areas of TVET Expertise
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Project Cycle Management: Extensive expertise in designing comprehensive skills development projects, drafting operational guidelines, and managing large-scale, multi-donor operations from initiation to evaluation.
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Curriculum & Skills Innovation: Driving the alignment of technical education programs with real-world industry requirements to ensure decent employment outcomes, particularly for marginalized and underprivileged youth.
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Stakeholder & Risk Management: Building and maintaining robust, long-term partnerships with government ministries, donor agencies, private sector entities, and community stakeholders.
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & TVET Integration: Bridging the gap between corporate sustainability goals and the structural support of technical education programs to enhance resource mobilization.
