Monthly Corner
Claudy Vouhé shared GRB in local authorities (French)
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) shows that the development of a budget and budgetary choices are powerful levers in terms of gender equality. We share our lessons learned in the field: a 5-step method, concrete examples (culture, sport, subsidies, public procurement, etc.) and keys to success. An operational work to objectify the impact of public policies and budgets and make RHL accessible.
Anuradha Kapoor Shared Swayam Recent Published Study
This exploratory study foregrounds the largely invisible issue of natal family violence (NFV) in India, exploring its forms, prevalence, and deep, long-term impacts on women's lives. It challenges the myth of the natal home as a safe space and centres survivor voices and lived experiences. The findings expose systemic silences and institutional barriers to justice. It offers vital insights for policy reform, feminist praxis, and deeper societal reflection.
Research Workshop on School Violence Prevention and Response - BLOG POST
Blog post summarizing key findings from each presentation and highlighting the outstanding research of all participants
Tara Prasad Gnyawali - Narrative
My flashback to working with wildlife-affected communities living in a biological transboundary corridor in Bardiya, Nepal, where I spent my golden 15 years. This story reflects changes that demonstrate how a community's tolerance extends to coexistence, and that is only due to the well-integrated planning of Ecotourism opportunities for the community.
Mehreen Farooq - BLOG
Events
Vacancies
- We’re Hiring: National Evaluation Consultant – Bangladesh
UN Women is recruiting a National Evaluation Consultant (Bangladesh) to support the interim evaluation of the Joint Regional EmPower Programme (Phase II).
This is a great opportunity to work closely with the Evaluation Team Leader and contribute to generating credible, gender-responsive evidence that informs decision-making and strengthens programme impact.
📍 Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh (home-based with travel to project locations)
📅 Apply by: 24 February 2026, 5:00 PM
🔗 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gar4ciRr
If you are passionate about feminist evaluation, gender equality, and rigorous evidence that drives change (or know someone who is) please apply or share within your networks.
- Seeking Senior Analyst - IPE Global
About the job
IPE Global Ltd. is a multi-disciplinary development sector consulting firm offering a range of integrated, innovative and high-quality services across several sectors and practices. We offer end-to-end consulting and project implementation services in the areas of Social and Economic Empowerment, Education and Skill Development, Public Health, Nutrition, WASH, Urban and Infrastructure Development, Private Sector Development, among others.
Over the last 26 years, IPE Global has successfully implemented over 1,200 projects in more than 100 countries. The group is headquartered in New Delhi, India with five international offices in United Kingdom, Kenya, Ethiopia, Philippines and Bangladesh. We partner with multilateral, bilateral, governments, corporates and not-for-profit entities in anchoring development agenda for sustained and equitable growth. We strive to create an enabling environment for path-breaking social and policy reforms that contribute to sustainable development.
Role Overview
IPE Global is seeking a motivated Senior Analyst – Low Carbon Pathways to strengthen and grow its Climate Change and Sustainability practice. The role will contribute to business development, program management, research, and technical delivery across climate mitigation, carbon markets, and energy transition. This position provides exceptional exposure to global climate policy, finance, and technology, working with a team of high-performing professionals and in collaboration with donors, foundations, research institutions, and public agencies.
Empowerment, identities and processes: Arunthathiyar SHG member as Anganwadi worker
- Ranjani K Murthy with Arogya Agam
Photo credit: Arogya Agam
This case study from an evaluation with highlights the complexity of women's empowerment. Researchers distinguish between individual (power to), interpersonal, collective agency (power with) and attitudinal change (power within) towards structural change. This small case study highlights that it is important to locate the empowerment debate in the context of marginal identities which marginalised women occupy, and how the pace of empowerment may be faster with regard to one marginal identity than another. Like race, oppression due to caste identity can only be slowly overcome, while comparatively class is easier.
45-year-old Vijitha (name changed) is an Arunthathiyar (oppressed amongst the oppressed caste of Dalits) who works as an Anganwadi (early child hood care and development centre) worker in Mekalapatti. Mekalapatti comprises of roughly 250 households. Other than 10 households the rest are Arunthathiyar and other Dalit households. Vijitha herself is a member of one of the ten SHGs in the village formed by Arogya Agam, partner of Village Service Trust.
There are around 50 children in in the age group of 0-5 years in the area covered by the anganwadi centre which Vijitha manages, of whom 25 come to the anganwadi regularly, 12 female and 13 male children. It is mainly children from Dalit (including Arunthathiyar) community who come to the centre. The children from Backward Classes (higher in the caste hierarchy than Dalits) who come do not eat food cooked by the helper (Arunthathiyar) due to caste hierarchies, but take dry rations home.
Vijitha moved up the hierarchy from being cook/helper to Anganwadi worker. Her name was suggested by the SHGs in the village for the post. She was recently offered the promotion-post of Anganwadi supervisor, wherein she would have to supervise other anganwadi centres too. When asked the reason, she stated that she is happy with what she had achieved. However, one was left with the doubt whether the main reason was possible non acceptance of Anganwadi workers of “higher” castes.
The anganwadi centre is open between 8AM to 3PM, and contributes to early childhood development and employment of mothers, as child care in India is by and large considered the responsibility of mothers or grandmothers. She notices no difference in nutrition of children of SHG members (10 in the village) and non-members, though the lone (girl) child who was underweight was a non-member’s child. According to her, with increase in income and awareness, the consumption of vegetables, eggs and milk has gone up over the years in the village, though intra household inequalities persist amongst adults. However, the children of SHG members are more regular and prompt in coming, and several of the mothers in “mother’s committee” come from SHGs. Meetings of adolescent girls take place, unlike in many other villages, and benefits of greens are elaborated, and those who are anaemic are referred to health such centres. The adolescent girls are made aware menstruation and use of sanitary pads, which is supplied free of cost for adolescent girls going to government schools. Anganwadi committees- covering all aspects- were taking place years back, but not now. On paper a few SHG leaders are in the committee, as well as local government leaders and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives.
Lessons:
- SHG member from marginalised communities becoming a worker in government service centres may be a good way of ensuring the services reaches these communities. Reservation for Arunthathiyar in government employment continues to be important,
- The presence of 10 SHGs of marginalised in a village makes a difference to Anganwadi centre (for that matter any government service centre), as the members and leaders enter different committees of the anganwadi,
- With increase in income (mainly construction work, with some Arunthathiyars purchasing cement mixers on loans) nutrition of children has improved, though gender inequalities persist in access of adults to nutritious food,
- However, caste hierarchies persist like children of BCs not being allowed to eat food cooked by castes considered “lower” to them, or Arunthathiyar Anganwadi worker not accepting promotion because of challenges, and
- It needs to be monitored if gains in nutrition of children, adolescent girls and adults continues when income has declined in post COVID-19 times, and if adolescent girls are getting access to pads when government schools are shut.
Empowerment is a process. It is not a stage which one “reaches”. Further, with regard to some identities (here class and gender) one may be making progress, but not all identities (in this case study caste). On some aspects within class and gender a person may be more empowered than others.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Rituu B Nanda on September 19, 2020 at 19:09
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Hi Ranjani,
I think it is a great suggestion that SHG members have a role in local government. Thanks Ranjani for also raising the caste related inequities in the site of your study.
As we know communities are not homogeneous. Constant reflection on who has progressed and whose voice is missing is key if we truly want competent communities.
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