ANSR Foundation Empowers Women Entrepreneurs with New Capacity-Building Program

🍵👓#WeekendReading: How Institutional Reform is Reshaping Entrepreneurship Support for Women in India The ILO's Women's Entrepreneurship Development Programme's new case study from #India shows how practical operational changes can make a measurable difference in entrepreneurship training outcomes for #WomenEntrepreneurs. The National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme) is one of India’s foremost entrepreneurship development institutions. Despite an extensive portfolio of programs targeting women, participation did not fully reflect the country's entrepreneurial potential. After identifying barriers such as #care responsibilities, mobility constraints, inflexible schedules, and limited digital access, the institute adjusted how it delivered training. The early results are clear: 📈 Women's participation increased by 293% following the introduction of more flexible delivery models and participant-centered program design. 📊 Better #SexDisaggregatedData helped identify participation gaps and inform outreach, program design, and planning. 🕒 Flexible schedules, community-based delivery, and hybrid learning made training more accessible for women balancing work and family responsibilities. 🍼 Practical measures such as childcare and lactation facilities reduced barriers that often go unaddressed. As countries seek to strengthen #EntrepreneurshipEcosystems, this case study reinforces an important lesson: supporting more women entrepreneurs isn't only about expanding access to programs—it's also about designing those programs around the realities of women's lives. Doing so can increase participation, strengthen business outcomes, and help unlock the full economic potential of women entrepreneurs. 📩 Download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/edAA2S2Z

The paper discusses the result of a study which growth and development of women entrepreneurs with special reference to Rajnandgaon Block. The study was undertaken to explore the entrepreneurial activities of women and to understand their contribution to economic and social development at the local level. The data were collected from 100 women entrepreneurs engaged in different business activities through a structured questionnaire. The gathered data were subjected to descriptive and analytical examination. The findings of the study indicate that women entrepreneurs play a significant role in income generation, employment creation, and improvement of family living standards. The study concludes that women entrepreneurship serves as a powerful instrument for women empowerment and sustainable economic development. The active participation of women in entrepreneurial activities not only improves their individual economic status but also contributes to the overall progress of society. by Dr. Santosh Uke | Sahil Kumar Janghel "Growth and Development of Women Entrepreneurs: A Case Study with Special Reference to Rajnandgaon Block" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-10 | Issue-3 , June 2026, URL: https://lnkd.in/dZiaE3Uq Paper URL: https://lnkd.in/dE-T72-E

A New Dawn for Women Entrepreneurs in India, and I could not be more proud. As MSME Day 2026 – "Udyami Bharat" arrives today, I find myself reflecting on what this moment means, not just for India's economy, but for every woman who ever doubted whether she belonged at the table. The Government of India is launching a powerful suite of digital initiatives under the MSME ecosystem, including PMEGP 2.0 and SAMADHAAN 2.0, and the day will conclude with a landmark panel discussion titled "Beginning of a New Era of Women Entrepreneurship." That title says it all. As of 2026, over 3.11 crore women-led enterprises are registered on the Udyam Portal - accounting for 40% of all registered MSMEs in India. These women are not just building businesses. They are building futures. Here is why this ecosystem of schemes is truly transformative: -PMEGP 2.0: Women entrepreneurs receive a higher subsidy of 25% (vs. 15% for others) to set up new micro-enterprises. Collateral worries? This new portal makes access faster and more transparent. -SAMADHAAN 2.0: Late payments have long crippled small businesses run by women. This dedicated portal for tracking delayed dues brings accountability where it was desperately needed. -CGTMSE: Women-owned businesses get an 85% credit guarantee, 10% higher than the standard. That is not just a number - that is a vote of confidence. -SHE Marts & MSME Global Mart 2.0: Market access is the game-changer. Women SHG and micro-enterprise products can now reach national and global buyers through digital commerce integration. -Yashasvini Campaign: Awareness drives so that no woman entrepreneur is left behind simply because she didn't know what was available to her. My own journey taught me that the hardest part is not the idea, it is the access. Access to capital. Access to markets. Access to belief. These schemes are addressing all three. To every woman entrepreneur reading this: the policy architecture is being built FOR YOU. This is the moment. Register on Udyam, apply, scale, and lead. India's economic growth cannot be complete without the full force of its women behind it. And I, for one, am excited about what comes next.

Behind every thriving business is a woman who refused to give up. 💛 This #MSMEDay, meet the changemakers, women from across India, from small towns to big cities, who took charge of their futures with the power of skill, support, and self-belief. SIDBI's entrepreneurship workshops didn't just teach business. They ignited confidence. They broke barriers. They built livelihoods. 🌍 Today, we don't just celebrate their businesses, we celebrate their courage. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India #SIDBI #InternationalMSMEDay #WomenEntrepreneurship

📢 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 | 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞! eTradeforWomen- 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬! UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s eTradeforWomen has extended 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 and opened additional slots for its 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, giving more women entrepreneurs across South Asia the opportunity to participate. This course is designed to help women founders better understand the funding landscape, engage confidently with investors, and strengthen their investment readiness. What you will gain: ✅ A clearer understanding of the South Asian funding landscape ✅ Guidance on approaching investors ✅ Support in developing a stronger investor pitch deck ✅ Live sessions with industry experts, mentors, and practical simulations The course is open to eligible women founders and co-founders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Developed by ABWCI - Association of Business Women in Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the eTradeforWomen, the program brings together insights from leading experts and practitioners across the region. 📢 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gPRkYHAW Parul Soni Savita Sethi Parul Soni Manvati Srishti . ABWCI - Association of Business Women in Commerce and Industry Sabrina Ielmoli Nathalie Vialle Ajaita S. Kartik Desai UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eTradeforWomen #ABWCI #eTradeForWomen #UNCTAD #WomenEntrepreneurs #InvestmentReadiness #DigitalEntrepreneurship #WomenFounders #SouthAsia #WomenInTech #DigitalBusiness #StartupEcosystem #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SouthAsia #InclusiveGrowth #ImpactEntrepreneurship #FemaleFounders

AccessBank’s Access2Success initiative reached Khankendi with an educational training tailored for women entrepreneurs. The session focused on building business knowledge, skills and confidence to support more sustainable growth for female-led ventures in the Karabakh region. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dZZwVjwc #SMEs #CapacityBuilding #Access2Success https://lnkd.in/d8PUytah

From running small kirana stores to becoming confident entrepreneurs, these women are transforming their businesses—and inspiring their communities. Through the Empowering Rural Women Kirana Entrepreneurs (RWKE) programme, led by Reliance Foundation in partnership with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform incubated under NITI Aayog and implemented with MicroSave Consulting, women entrepreneurs are strengthening their businesses with practical skills in financial management, digital adoption, market access, and business planning. Watch how knowledge, confidence, and opportunity are helping them build stronger enterprises and brighter futures. Women Entrepreneurship Platform, MSC (MicroSave Consulting), NITI Aayog #RelianceFoundation #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenEmpowerment #RuralDevelopment #NITIAayog

Empowering women through skill development is an investment in stronger families, resilient communities, and sustainable livelihoods. At Sukhad Foundation, our Skill Development Workshop focused on creative tote bag designing, enabling women to develop practical skills that can contribute to self-employment and entrepreneurship. Every new skill learned is a step toward greater confidence, financial independence, and long-term empowerment. We remain committed to creating opportunities that help women unlock their potential and build brighter futures. #SukhadFoundation #WomenEmpowerment #SkillDevelopment #Livelihood #SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #CSR

Strengthening Partnerships for Women Entrepreneurship We are delighted to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sakhi Unique Resource Enterprise Pvt Ltd (SURE) and deAsra Foundation to empower women entrepreneurs through enhanced skills, knowledge, and business support. This collaboration aims to promote entrepreneurship awareness and business readiness among SURE's beneficiary communities through structured training, capacity-building, mentorship, and market linkage initiatives. Through its Sakhi model, SURE reaches the last mile to deliver technology, knowledge, and enterprise support, enabling women to build sustainable livelihoods. As part of the AAHAR BAZAR cohort, SURE is committed to strengthening rural women-led food enterprises The MoU was signed in the presence of Upmanyu Patil (Founder& Director, SURE), Vivek Shinde (Lead Food Business), Pradnya Godbole (CEO, DeAsra) and Asmita Tatke (Program Manager, DeAsra), marking the beginning of a meaningful partnership to create greater opportunities for rural women entrepreneurs. Together, we look forward to building stronger enterprises, resilient communities, and inclusive economic growth. #WomenEntrepreneurship #SocialImpact #CapacityBuilding #SURE #DeAsra #AAHARBazar

There was a time when many rural women hesitated to speak in public, make financial decisions, or imagine themselves as business owners. Today, they stand with confidence, sharing ideas, explaining business concepts, and inspiring others to believe that they, too, can become entrepreneurs. This is the transformation that the Didi Ki Dukaan initiative strives to create. Every training session is more than just learning about retail, digital payments, inventory management, or financial literacy. It is about breaking barriers, building self-belief, and creating opportunities that allow women to earn with dignity without having to leave their villages in search of work. When one woman gains confidence, an entire family becomes stronger. When she starts her own enterprise, her village gains a role model. And when many women come together to learn, lead, and support one another, communities begin to transform. We extend thanks to Hindustan Unilever and YuWaah India at UNICEF for believing in this vision and standing with us in empowering rural women through entrepreneurship. Vedprakash Sharma National Skill Development Corporation MSDE Skill India Ministry of Rural Development, GoI Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India #DidiKiDukaan #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenEmpowerment #RuralDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #SustainableLivelihoods #SkillDevelopment #FinancialInclusion #CSR #SocialImpact #BABLEFoundation #InclusiveGrowth #RuralIndia #CommunityDevelopment #EmpoweringWomen