There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.  

These words from Botswananian lawyer Bosa Sebele, the Africa Focal Point for the United Nations Major Group on Children and Youth, hold true for all women across geographies and time.  

The pandemic has had a debilitating effect around the globe. In India, one of its long-term effects has been on working women and their careers. 

Data from The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows that the overall labour participation rate dropped from 46% to 40% between 2017 and 2022. Among women, the data is starker. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of working women in India dropped from 26% to 19%, according to data compiled by the World Bank. CMIE data confirms that post pandemic, in 2021-22 this metric dipped sharply to 9.2%. About 21 million women disappeared from the workforce. 

From handling the mounting load of unpaid care work to the lack of employment opportunities, safe commute, family support or the harsh reality of gender pay gap and inflexible HR policies, the reasons keeping women out of the workforce are varied and nuanced. 

On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2021, UNDP India in association with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, jointly launched Women@Work — a yearlong campaign to spark discussion and engagement around workplace issues for women and what industry and stakeholders can do to attract, retain and empower women in a bid to reverse the trend. The website is a repository that honours every woman determined to rise and an ecosystem that fire starts her journey. 

Small and Medium Enterprise Champions - Call for Nominations

UNDP India and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship invite SMEs and SME Associations to nominate enterprises championing women in non-conventional jobs. 

Are you a Small or Medium Enterprise that’s powered by women? 

India is known for its economic dynamism. Businesses in India have catalysed its growth, increased incomes and lifted multitudes out of poverty. However, public expectations converge greater economic opportunities as well as achieving gender equality and pay parity at workplaces. As society demands better, businesses are becoming part of the solution and turning their attention towards enhancing opportunities for women to participate equally in economic activities and livelihoods.  

UNDP India in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched ‘Women at Work’ —  a year-long campaign to spark dialogue on critical issues surrounding women at the workplace, specifically within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to showcase best practices, facilitate knowledge sharing, and celebrate role models. Supported by Business and Human Rights (B+HR) Asia, this initiative also promotes the Protect, Respect, and Remedy framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Through the campaign, UNDP India aims to acknowledge and felicitate India’s SMEs who hire, retain, and nurture women in non-conventional roles and break gendered notions of work.  

Across the country, SMEs are encouraging women to forge ahead and secure jobs — from welders, plumbers, electricians, JCB drivers, QMS engineers, supply chain, testing & commissioning, production & assembling supervisors — traditionally considered beyond their reach. Consider M.Thenmozhi. In the early 2000s, she became the country's first IBR certified welder. Or Najreen from Varanasi, who, after completing her 12th standard, underwent a three-month training from the Institute of Engineering and Technical Education, Varanasi, to become a plumber. To celebrate transformational stories of India’s SME champions who support women like M. Thenmozhi or Najreen, we are seeking nominations.  

Selected nominees will be honoured by publishing their stories in an exclusive UNDP India e-book, jointly with Govt of India’s MSDE. These stories will chronicle how SMEs have adopted gender-inclusive policies to create safe spaces that support women in non-conventional roles. The book will unpack their challenges and highlight progressive measures, best practices and innovative technologies used to empower women. 

UNDP India and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship invite SMEs and SME Associations to nominate enterprises championing women in non-conventional jobs to showcase best practices in India. 

If you’re a small or medium enterprise raising your competitiveness, enhancing productivity levels, and drawing global investors by building and nurturing a workplace where women perform non-conventional jobs, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Who can apply?

Small or medium enterprises as defined by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006

 

Criteria

SMEs that hire women in non-conventional roles or jobs in which women have been traditionally excluded or find low representation due to culture, gender norms, contract or law.

SMEs that are owned or led by women.

3.   SMEs that promote measures to attract, hire, train and retain and support women in non-conventional jobs.

 

How to nominate? 

Write to us at ig.coord@undp.org with subject line ‘Women@Work Nomination’. Your nomination must have the contact details of the SME and its top management, a brief backgrounder about the SME and the systemic workplace changes brought about in recent years to create opportunities for women in non-conventional roles and empower them. We accept self-nominations. 

Last date to apply: September 15, 2022

For any questions, reach out to ig.coord@undp.org 

      
Supported by B+HR Asia, EU