BRAC relaunches ‘bridge returnship’ to help women re-enter workforce

BRAC has relaunched its 'BRIDGE Returnship' programme to support women returning to work after career breaks, citing family responsibilities and motherhood as the most common reasons women leave employment.

At a media briefing held on Thursday, 5 March, at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, BRAC said analysis of returnship applicants shows 38.8% cited family responsibilities and 36% cited motherhood as the main reasons for leaving employment. Other reasons included personal causes (18.8%), pursuing higher education (14.4%), hostile work environments (8.5%), and societal pressure (4.7%).

Moutushi Kabir, chief people and culture officer at BRAC, delivered the welcome address and answered questions from the media. Nazibul Islam Sharker, assistant general manager for early careers and employer brand at BRAC, was also present.

Kabir said a career break is not a sign of weakness and that time away from formal employment does not diminish skill, experience, or leadership potential. She recalled BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's words: 'I have never met a defeated woman in my life.'

BRAC has said the returnship is designed to provide structured pathways for accomplished women to re-enter the workforce. Participants will engage in project supervision, research, and other activities across BRAC programmes to support departmental work.

For this year's programme, BRAC received more than 1,200 applications. After a multi-stage process, 24 candidates were selected for a six-month placement across BRAC programmes. BRAC has said they will receive skills training, leadership workshops, mentoring, and other professional development opportunities, alongside support to build connections with NGOs, private sector organisations, and corporate institutions.

BRAC has said applicants' motivations for joining included career growth (76.5%), building one's identity (62.2%), financial independence (56.5%), boosting self-confidence (57.7%), and contributing to their families (42.7%).

The event included a panel discussion with two members of last year's cohort: Elizabeth Marandy, now a senior officer at BRAC's microfinance programme, and Farah Mahboob, deputy manager at BRAC's Social Innovation Lab. The session was moderated by Shemonty Monjari, manager (communications), Gender Equality Coalition at BRAC. Shahnaz Sharmeen, special correspondent at Ekattor TV, also spoke.

BRAC introduced the BRIDGE Returnship programme last year. In the inaugural cohort, 15 participants were selected from nearly 1,100 applicants.