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MoRD UNICEF YuWaah Partnership: Empowering Youth and Rural Women in India Through Skilling and Entrepreneurship

Byadmin

In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming rural livelihoods, the MoRD UNICEF YuWaah partnership was formally launched with the signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) between the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and UNICEF YuWaah. This collaborative effort is focused on empowering India’s youth and rural women by linking them to skilling, self-employment, and economic opportunities.

Strategic Objectives of the MoRD UNICEF YuWaah Partnership

The MoRD UNICEF YuWaah partnership will span over a period of three years and aims to build upon existing national and state-level programs to deliver scalable solutions in skill development, economic participation, and social impact—particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations.

A significant element of this initiative includes a pilot program across selected Community Livelihood Federations (CLFs) in Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. This pilot will focus on Self-Help Group (SHG) women and their female family members aged 18-29, empowering them through job placements, entrepreneurship training, and locally relevant skill development.

A Timely Initiative Aligned with National Priorities

TK Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary at MoRD, underscored the importance of the initiative, stating, 

“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.”

Notably, nearly one-third of India’s 10 crore SHG members are youth, making them pivotal to the initiative’s success.

Sharada Thapalia, Deputy Representative Operations at UNICEF India, echoed these sentiments: 

“By strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing skilling pathways, and fostering entrepreneurship, this partnership has the potential to create sustainable livelihoods and transform local economies.”

Innovative Initiatives Under the MoRD UNICEF YuWaah Partnership

The MoRD UNICEF YuWaah partnership will pilot several key components aimed at long-term impact:

  • Youth Hub Platform: A digital aggregator for jobs, skills, and volunteering opportunities to streamline access for young individuals, especially rural women.
  • Lakhpati Didis: The initiative aims to create 2,500 women entrepreneurs with an annual income of ₹1 lakh or more, supporting the government’s vision for rural prosperity.
  • Computer Didi Centres: These 100 digital hubs, operated by women at the Panchayat level, will strengthen digital literacy and provide access to online learning and income opportunities.

Digital Girls Hub and Didi Ki Dukaan: Expanding Economic Participation

Two notable innovations under this partnership include:

  • Digital Girls Hub (DGH): Backed by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, this initiative targets last-mile skilling and employment of young women using rural digital infrastructure and Youth Hub resources.
  • Didi Ki Dukaan: To boost entrepreneurship, 250 retail stores will be launched across five blocks. These will provide SHG women with training, branding, and marketing support, alongside an online presence to connect with broader markets.

Additionally, Community Management Training Centres (CMTCs) will be established to offer residential training in entrepreneurship and digital skills, supported by SHG and CLF networks.

A National Blueprint for Inclusive Growth

The MoRD UNICEF YuWaah partnership reflects the Government of India’s deep commitment to inclusive growth by creating tangible pathways for women and youth to become economically self-reliant. This model is expected to be scaled nationally, potentially impacting over 3.5 million women across 7,000+ blocks.

With emphasis on local demand-based skill development, entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled solutions, this partnership seeks to reshape rural economies and empower communities from within.

About UNICEF YuWaah

Launched in 2019, YuWaah is the India chapter of UNICEF’s global Generation Unlimited initiative, which was introduced at the UN General Assembly in 2018. Designed to address the aspirations and challenges of youth aged 10–24, YuWaah aims to:

  • Provide socio-economic opportunities to 100 million youth.
  • Equip 200 million young people with future-ready skills.
  • Engage 300 million youth as community change-makers.

With backing from key figures like Smriti Irani and a letter of support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, YuWaah is actively transforming how young Indians access opportunities for growth.

The MoRD UNICEF YuWaah partnership not only reinforces the importance of empowering rural youth and women, but also presents a scalable and replicable model that could shape India’s rural development trajectory in the years to come.

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