Outcome IND_O_2

Advancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale: UN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate

Through robust resource mobilisation, strategic communications, and targeted advocacy, India CO has effectively leveraged existing partnerships and established new collaborations with bilateral and multilateral agencies, private sector foundations, corporates, and government entities. These efforts have directly resulted in securing non-core resources totalling USD 15 million for the SN period (2023–2027), with USD 5.8 million available in 2025 and an additional USD 1.23 million raised during the year. A strong funding pipeline of USD 4.7 million further demonstrates continued momentum in resource mobilisation. Significant progress has been made in diversifying financing channels, including unlocking state government funding and piloting outcome-based approaches for women's economic empowerment. During the reporting period, ICO signed 5 new MoUs with different national and state government ministries and departments, resulting in a total of 14 ongoing MoUs in 2025. Grants were unlocked from 3 new donors (Government of Madhya Pradesh, Ministry of Women and Child Development (Government of India) and UNDP). Additional resources were raised from existing donors, resulting in ongoing grants from total 13 donors and 11 Unstereotype Alliance members. The UN Women Fund for Women Entrepreneurs, launched in December 2024, enhanced access to crowdfunding and peer to peer lending for over 2200 women entrepreneurs across 20 states in India. UN Women leveraged seed investment of USD 238,000 to forge partnerships with a non-banking financing company and civil society organisation, and create an innovative platform and debt crowdfunding mechanism. The Fund mobilized impact capital of over USD 1 million from social impact investors and provided collateral-free loans to small and micro women entrepreneurs, supporting the establishment of credit hstories for first-time borrowers and creation of more than 3200 jobs. The Fund has transformed micro-credit into a near-zero-cost financial product, emerging as a powerful instrument for financing the gender equality agenda. These achievements reflect measurable advances in outreach and fund diversification. The allocation of regular resources from the Government of India marks a major milestone, enabling the ICO to deliver transformative impact across priority areas in alignment with national objectives and positioning the organisation to attract further funding from national and state government departments.

Advancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale: UN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate

In 2024, UN Women India effectively harnessed both traditional and non-traditional partnerships to drive broader stakeholder engagement in advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). Through strategic collaboration with bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector entities, foundations, and civil society organisations, UN Women mobilised significant financial and in-kind support for GEWE initiatives. Knowledge management, communications, and advocacy efforts also played a pivotal role in amplifying the impact of these partnerships. Key campaigns and targeted outreach enhanced visibility and fostered a stronger commitment among stakeholders, positioning UN Women as a trusted partner in driving systemic change for gender equality in India.

Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate

45 companies signed Women's Empowerment Principles in 2023 committing to strengthening gender equality in workplace, marketplace, and community interventions. The total number of signatories in India stands at 383. Six WEPs signatories (Capgemini India, Havas Group, Natwest Group, Zensar Technologies, and [24]7.ai and Aspire for Her) led UNite Her Job Fair, facilitated by UN Women, to enable women’s re-entry back to formal work after career break. 3 companies ( Biocon, Aditya Birla Capital and Mullen Lowe Lintas) joined Unsterotype Alliance as paid members resulting in total membership base of 17 champions, allies and members of UA India chapter. MOU signed with the GOVERNMENT: 2 MOU with Department of Technical Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh ( signed 4th October 2023). UN Women, India Country Representative and Secretary, Department of Technical Education and CEO, Madhya Pradesh State Skill Development and Employment Generation Board signed the MOU; Government of Maharashtra. 4 For knowledge sharing: (LBSNAA, Head Held High Foundation, MICA, 180 Degree Consulting) 6 For resources: EU in India, Micron, Nokia, Ford Foundation, GIZ, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation IMPLEMENTING/RESPONSIBLE PARTY (PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH CSOs) 1. PRADAN (start date: 12 Oct 2023) 2. Sakshi (start date: 1 Nov 2023 )