Scaling-up women-led agribusiness enterprises within the NRLM

Imago Global Grassroots along with Self-employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is currently implementing a women-led agro-processing enterprise model with rural market linkages, with the cluster level federations (CLF) of the SRLM in two states in India. The pilot enterprises have been set-up in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with the support of 3ie. Besides, the model is currently being scaled to other locations in MP, UP, and Jharkhand, with the support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the respective State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs).

Expected outcomes of the project

The objective of the project is to identify what works in enhancing the viability, scalability, and returns of women’s collective enterprises. The expected outcomes over the next 3 years are:

An scalable social enterprise model

A standardized and sustainable agro-processing enterprise model for enterprises owned and operated by women-led community-based organizations, ready to be further scaled to other states in India

Capacity building of SHG members & women-led community institutions for productive employment

SHG Women acquire business, operations, & technology skills for generating additional income, the cluster level federations gain project management and business understanding skills for effective enterprise management.

Capacity building of state government departments

The SRLM teams are equipped with necessary protocols, tools, and training to lead the implementation of agro-processing model across multiple districts within the state.

About the model

The inspiration of the model comes from RUDI, an innovative social enterprise pioneered by SEWA in Gujarat since 2004, that leverages the strength and potential of women collectives. This whole value chain intervention is based on the Gandhian principles of simplicity & strengthening women’s leadership and the village economy.

Read the case study
Square-Item Circle-Item Square-Item Square-Item Stroke

A whole value chain approach to women’s economic empowerment

Scaling up a SEWA Women Collective Enterprise from Gujarat through Government Self-Help Groups in the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is an intervention and evaluation funded by 3ie under its Swashakt Evidence Program to support collectives and group-based models for women-led businesses in partnership with State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) in India. In November 2022, we received a grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work with the State Rural Livelihood Mission to take the RUDI model to 200 clusters across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkand.