Reach, dose, and fidelity of STAR+, an employment intervention for youth with disabilities in Bangladesh

Youth with disabilities face persistent barriers to decent work. STAR+ is a disability-inclusive adaptation of a mainstream skills training program in Bangladesh that provides apprenticeships, classroom training, and disability-specific support. This process evaluation assessed the program’s reach, dose, and fidelity using mixed methods, including survey data from 675 youth and interviews with participants and implementers. Of the youth invited, 72 per cent participated in at least one program component, with high levels of engagement and satisfaction reported with each. However, challenges were identified, including mismatches between disabilities recorded on government-issued identity cards and program assessments, underprovision/poor fit of assistive products, and trade selection practices that sometimes restricted youth choices based on impairment type. Despite these gaps, most components were delivered as intended and well received by participants. Findings highlight both the feasibility and complexity of implementing inclusive employment programs and provide suggestions for future implementation.