Local economic development in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has received a huge boost through a CLGF project about rural livelihoods, with a focus on women. As the first phase comes to an end, one of the key outcomes of the programme is the mainstreaming of CLGF’s blueprint into government training and local government development plans. 

Successful outcomes from the 18 month programme include:

• a customised training model on local economic development (LED) and entrepreneurship management for a women’s self-help group and staff from the Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (MPSRLM);

• a three-day LED and entrepreneurship management orientation programme for key Madhya Pradesh officials from seven districts within the Indian State;

• three rounds of training in seven of the state’s districts (Dhar, Dewas Hoshangabad, Sagar, Ujjain, Rewa and Sheopuri) for key actors in the Take Home Ration scheme (a practice that allows financially disadvantaged children and pregnant women to receive nutritious food packages); and

• training over 700 women from self-help groups and over 200 MPSRLM officials on LED and entrepreneurship. 

CLGF is also providing support to the Government of Madhya Pradesh in seven different districts in the capacity building of rural women, enabling them to manage THR units independently.

Technical expertise  

A testament to effective partnership working, the 18 month programme was funded in part by DIFD; with significant co-funding from state and local governments; and benefited from CLGF’s technical expertise on LED and livelihoods. 

This work is part of the Memorandum of Understanding that CLGF signed with the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, as well as the three smart cities: Jabalpur Municipal Corporation, Sagar Smart City and Ujjain Smart City, to work on rural livelihoods. 

This January, CLGF provided critical input to Jabalpur Smart City’s assessment process of entrepreneurs and the selection of around 40 potential entrepreneur for the city’s business incubation centre of Jabalpur, who received trained on creative innovation by a international expert. 

Power of partnerships

CLGF Project Officer, Ms Anuya Kuwar, said: “There have been some great successes to date and, with such excellent buy-in from all the partners, CLGF is delighted to have facilitated this collaboration, which so clearly demonstrates the power of partnerships.”

She continued: “This is one of the most prestigious LED endeavours by the state of Madhya Pradesh with a focus on empowering women and, once the elections are over, we hope to move to the second phase of the programme: strengthening the ability of the pilot projects to support job creation small and medium enterpreneurs.”