India’s economic landscape presents a stark gender disparity, with women contributing only 18% to the GDP and a low female labour force participation. This is exacerbated by the fact that most women in non-agricultural jobs work in the informal economy, limiting their opportunities for growth and development. Additionally, according to a report by Bain & Company, nearly 20% of enterprises in India are owned by women.

Closing the gender gap is not just a matter of economic empowerment; it’s also a significant economic opportunity. The IMF estimates that bridging this gap could boost India’s GDP by a substantial $700 billion by 2025. While initiatives led by the government like NRLM, NULM, and WEP have achieved tremendous progress, there is a need for comprehensive action to address factors like education, access to credit, and socio-cultural norms that hinder women’s economic participation.

The AWE-India Network aims to bridge this gap by providing resources, support, and advancement for gender-responsive policies. By empowering women entrepreneurs, the network seeks to supplement the efforts of the government and create a more inclusive society where women have equal opportunities to succeed.

Policy Support and Implementation: Convene policy forums, engage with policymakers to promote gender-responsive policies, and foster collaborative initiatives for women entrepreneurship.

Knowledge Sharing: Enhance collective learning by facilitating collaboration among partners and providing a platform for sharing insights, best practices, and success stories.

Capacity Building and Mentorship: Bridge gaps by offering capacity building, mentorship, and business development support for women entrepreneurs.

Institutional Product Creation: Develop and disseminate innovative knowledge products such as research papers, reports, and policy briefs tailored to Indian female entrepreneurs.

Our mission is to provide women entrepreneurs across India with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed. Through support, capacity building, and collaboration, we aim to foster a supportive ecosystem that enables women to start and grow successful businesses, driving economic growth and gender equality.

The AWE-India Network has 4 Working Thematic Groups:

Access to Market

Access to Finance

Gender, Social Norms and Enabling Environment

Building capacities, Skilling and Entrepreneurship

Our vision is to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs by 2030, creating a more inclusive and prosperous society where women have equal opportunities to thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape.