According to a statement issued by the ministry, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and UNICEF YuWaah inked a Statement of Intent (SOI) to further cooperation with the goal of empowering India’s women and youth by providing them with access to economic, social impact, and skilling possibilities.

With a focus on vulnerable people, UNICEF YuWaah and MoRD will co-create scalable solutions for skilling, economic possibilities, and social impact via this three-year cooperation, building on current national and state efforts. The foundation of this partnership is a pilot project that will use an ecosystem approach to empower SHG women and their female family members (18–29 years old) by connecting them to jobs, self-employment, entrepreneurship, and skills that are in line with local demand. The project will be implemented across CLFs in Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

“This partnership has come at a very opportune time as it aligns with the Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme announced in the Budget 2025-26,” said TK Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development. It is also noteworthy since young people, who make up over one-third of the 10 crore SHG members, will be instrumental in this endeavor.”

“This partnership has the potential to transform local economies and create sustainable livelihoods by boosting entrepreneurship, improving skilling pathways, and fortifying digital infrastructure.” “Investing in women’s and youth economic participation is about promoting inclusive growth at the community and national levels, not just about personal advancement,” said Sharada Thapalia, Deputy Representative Operations, UNICEF India.

In line with the government’s goal for female entrepreneurs, this pilot will include cutting-edge elements like Youth Hub, an aggregator platform for employment, skill development, and volunteer work, while trying scalable models to produce 2,500 “Lakhpati Didis.” If the idea is effective, it might reach more than 7,000 blocks and 3.5 million women. The project will create 100 “Computer Didi Centers” at the Panchayat level, all of which will be operated by women, in order to improve the digital and entrepreneurial infrastructure.

A campaign to empower young women

By using Youth Hub and rural infrastructure, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation-supported Digital Girls Hub (DGH) program will improve young women’s employment and last-mile skilling.

“Didi Ki Dukaan”: Retail establishments will open

In an effort to promote economic empowerment, 250 “Didi Ki Dukaan” retail locations will be established across five blocks. These locations will provide branding, market connections, training, and an internet presence to help local manufacturers reach a larger audience.

Residential training will be offered by Community Management Training Centers (CMTCs), and the project will increase rural job prospects via the use of technology and CLF/SHG networks.

By providing rural youth, especially women, with the tools and resources they need to become financially independent, MoRD’s collaboration with UNICEF YuWaah reaffirms the Government of India’s commitment to promoting equitable development. India’s women will be at the vanguard of the nation’s economic growth thanks to the programs described in the Statement of Intent, which have the potential to become a national model for sustainable livelihoods.

Concerning UNICEF YuWaah

During the 2018 UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General introduced UNICEF’s worldwide Generation Unlimited (GenU) campaign as part of the UN Youth Policy 2030. By increasing learning, skill development, employment, and engagement possibilities, this effort tackles the pressing needs of youth between the ages of 10 and 24.

In November 2019, YuWaah, the Generation Unlimited chapter in India, was introduced. UNICEF’s YuWaah program seeks to: Establish avenues for 100 million youth to pursue aspirational socioeconomic prospects by 2030. Give 200 million youth the opportunity to learn skills that will be useful in the workplace of the future. Join forces with 300 million youth to create change by giving them opportunities to hone their leadership abilities.

The Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, also sent a letter of support for YuWaah, which was launched in 2019 by the Honourable Minister for Women and Children’s Development, Smriti Irani. Keep up with YuWaah on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. To learn more, go to http://www.yuwaah.org.