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Anirban Bhowmik

Regional Director, Central and East Africa at Swisscontact

Anirban Bhowmik is an experienced professional currently serving as the Regional Director for Central and East Africa at Swisscontact.1 With a background in development and project management, he has held various leadership positions throughout his career.4

Professional Experience

Bhowmik's career trajectory includes several key roles:

  • Regional Director, Central and East Africa: His current position at Swisscontact.1
  • Country Director: A previous leadership role in his career.1
  • Head of Portfolio: Demonstrating his expertise in managing diverse projects.1
  • Private Sector Development Adviser: Highlighting his focus on economic growth and business development.1
  • Programme Management Adviser: Showcasing his skills in overseeing complex development initiatives.1

Recent Initiatives

In his current role, Bhowmik has been involved in significant projects:

  • Propel A Project: Three years ago, designing and launching this project was one of his priority tasks.3
  • Policy Engagement: He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between policymakers, civil society, and the private sector to navigate uncertain times in Africa.2

Expertise and Focus Areas

Anirban Bhowmik's work centers on:

  • Private sector development
  • Project and programme management
  • Regional development strategies
  • Collaboration between various stakeholders in the development sector

His LinkedIn profile (username: anirbanbhowmikprivatesectordev) reflects his professional focus on private sector development and his commitment to sustainable development goals, particularly SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).2

Highlights

Jul 15 · linkedin

Celebrate World Youth Skills Day with Swisscontact!   On July 15th, 2025, we celebrate World Youth Skills Day! The United Nations General Assembly recognizes the critical role of equipping young people with the skills they need to find employment, decent work, and entrepreneurial opportunities.   Why is this so important? Globally, 1.2 billion young people are aged 15 to 24, making up 16% of the world's population. Africa has the world's youngest population, with a median age of 19.7 in 2020. This is why Swisscontact has been creating lasting opportunities in Central, East, and Southern Africa for the past 45 years.   Our commitment to youth empowerment began with the first skills development project in the region at the National Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1979. Since then, we've implemented numerous successful projects, including:

Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET): Aligned with Tanzania's National Skills Development Strategy, this program strengthens the national capacity of the Vocational Skills Development (VSD) system and promotes market-driven skills training opportunities. https://lnkd.in/dTzDMBkf

Promoting Market-Oriented Skills Training (PROMOST): Running from 2012 to 2023 in Rwanda and currently ongoing in South Kivu (DRC) and Burundi. Learn more about its ongoing impact in the Great Lakes Region: https://lnkd.in/dfamrTzg

Skills to Build (S2B): Focused on Mozambique, this project works closely with the private sector to promote employment opportunities in the construction sector through specific training measures. Learn more about it here:https://lnkd.in/dFbW9baf

U-LEARN (Learn, Earn and Save): Empowering youth in Uganda and Tanzania. Find details here: https://lnkd.in/dCYtJmEJ

Skills for Life (S4L): This project aimed to empower unemployed youth (aged 18-25) by enhancing their access to technical skills training, financial literacy, and life skills for improved livelihoods. It targeted both host communities and refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, Kenya. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/d2rUiw4d

PropelA: A pioneering private-sector led skills development program. Watch the video below to learn more about this groundbreaking initiative in our World Skills Day Feature.

We are humbled by the opportunity to support thousands of young people in acquiring the skills to realize their dreams and contribute to their journey towards prosperity. At Swisscontact, we remain dedicated to creating lasting opportunities for future generations.   #WorldYouthSkillsDay #Swisscontact #YouthEmpowerment #SkillsDevelopment
Roman Troxler,Lillian Mwai,Regula Chavez-Malgiaritta,Md. Arafat Hossain,Thierry Lenoir Kiambi Barbara, Dip CIPR, MPRSK

Mar 13 · linkedin

Our endevour to #InspireInclusion is not confined to International Women's Day. At Swisscontact in our every day's work we strive to invest in initiatives that challenge the gender stereotype and celebrate those who are constantly breaking boundaries.

Lucy Muchemi is one such leader. I met her first in 2021 and from the first handshake I realised I met a person with great resilience and steadfast determination. Since 2021, Lucy has been with our #PROPELA programme mentoring, inspiring young Kenyans, and encouraging young women to defy the odds by developing their professional career through the dual-apprenticeship programme.

Lucy is not only supporting young Kenyan women to embark on a career journey in the construction sector - traditionally a male dominated field, but she is also role-modeling among young men, to champion an inclusive society as future partners, fathers and colleagues.

Thank you Lucy for being a great partner and joining us in the journey to #InspierInclusion among Kenyan Future Leaders.

Related Questions

What is the Propel A project that Anirban Bhowmik mentioned?
How has Anirban Bhowmik contributed to SDG4 and SDG8?
What are some of the key achievements of Anirban Bhowmik in his role?
What challenges has Anirban Bhowmik faced in Central and East Africa?
How does Anirban Bhowmik's background in private sector development influence his current role?
Anirban Bhowmik
Anirban Bhowmik, photo 1
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Location

Nairobi County, Kenya