RMG Sector: Child Development and STEM opportunities Baseline Study

RMCL conducted the baseline study for the “Collective Impact on Future of Work in Bangladesh (OPORAJITA)” project implemented by Save the Children with support from the H&M Foundation. The study focused on children of women garment workers in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, generating evidence on child protection, nutrition, education, life skills, and STEM opportunities for vulnerable children and adolescents. The assignment aimed to assess the existing conditions, vulnerabilities, and support systems affecting children of RMG workers and their families in selected project areas. The study established baseline indicators to support evidence-based program planning, monitoring, and long-term impact assessment for interventions targeting child well-being and future workforce readiness.

• Baseline study design and methodological framework development;
• Household and community-level assessments;
• Child-sensitive quantitative and qualitative research;
• Stakeholder consultations and institutional mapping;
• Data management, analysis, and evidence generation;
• Reporting and strategic recommendations.

1. 1• Child protection and safeguarding mechanisms;
2. 2• Access to education and learning opportunities;
3. 3Nutrition and health-related conditions;
4. 4Life skills and future readiness of adolescents;
5. 5STEM exposure and educational opportunities;
6. 6Parenting support systems for women garment workers;
7. 7Community awareness and reporting mechanisms on child rights issues.

Using participatory and child-friendly research approaches, RMCL engaged children, caregivers, women garment workers, teachers, local stakeholders, and service providers to generate context-specific evidence from intervention communities. The study incorporated ethical research standards, safeguarding protocols, and gender-responsive methodologies to ensure safe and inclusive participation of children and vulnerable households. The findings highlighted critical gaps in child protection awareness, access to services, and educational opportunities among children of garment workers while identifying opportunities for strengthening community support systems, parenting practices, and child-centered development interventions. The evidence contributed to improving program strategies focused on education, child protection, nutrition, adolescent empowerment, and future workforce preparedness within Bangladesh’s RMG sector communities. This assignment demonstrates RMCL’s expertise in child-focused research, education assessments, gender-responsive studies, labor-community research, and socially inclusive development programming supporting vulnerable populations in Bangladesh.