Greetings from Grameen Foundation for Social Impact !

In January 2025 an enriching training session was conducted to enable Business Correspondent (BC) agents and Micro Entrepreneurs (MEs) with essential skills for growth. By focusing on customer service, soft skills, and gender sensitization, the training aimed to improve their interactions with customers and create a more inclusive business environment. Furthermore, we introduced participants, especially 149 women attendees, to an e-commerce platform intended to equip them with the digital skills necessary to thrive in the evolving digital marketplace, expanding their reach and business opportunities.

Transformative Training Sessions were conducted in Bihar that focused on Customer-Centric Strategies

Successful training sessions on customer centricity were conducted in the Nalanda and Gaya districts of Bihar, engaging 25 participants in Nalanda and 38 in Gaya. The focus was on enhancing effective customer engagement through essential soft skills, including proper dress code, maintaining appropriate distance, and understanding diverse customer needs. This training is crucial as it enables BC agents and MEs to improve customer interactions, fostering increased satisfaction and loyalty.

Interactive elements such as pre-tests, post-tests, role-plays, and discussions were incorporated, along with handouts for reference. Feedback forms were utilized for continuous improvement. Additionally, a strategic planning session was held to develop a standardized monitoring framework and integrate mandatory and need-based training modules. This structured approach ensures a unified commitment to exceptional customer service across the organization.

Gender Sensitization and ONDC Training Sessions were conducted in Gujarat

The gender sensitization and ONDC training sessions were conducted in Palanpur and Bharuch, Gujarat on January 30th–31st, 2025, successfully engaged 123 participants, including BC agents, MEs, and BCNM trainers. The sessions focused on promoting gender inclusivity, key gender concepts, role transformation, and the impact of stereotypes, with interactive discussions and role-plays encouraging active participation.

The ONDC training provided valuable insights into onboarding, branding, and stock management, helping women entrepreneurs grow their digital businesses. The initiative was praised by dignitaries, who recommended more training sessions to improve women’s participation in digital commerce.

Grameen Foundation participated in the 9th FPO Conclave and Agri Award

Grameen Foundation was honored to be a part of the 9th FPO Conclave and Agri Award held in January. The Director for the Innovations Project, Mr. Rahul Dube, joined a distinguished panel of industry leaders to share valuable insights on cutting-edge innovations in the agricultural sector. During the event, we emphasized the transformative work we’re doing to support Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs).

A key focus of our efforts is enabling FPOs to expand their reach through e-commerce platforms like ONDC, which can significantly boost their income and sales. By connecting them to these platforms, we’re not only opening new market opportunities but also enabling FPOs to compete in the digital economy.

Our BC (Business Correspondent) agents play a pivotal role in facilitating this, assisting FPOs with the onboarding process to these platforms. Furthermore, we provide comprehensive training to equip FPO members with essential skills, including branding, logistics, packaging, and understanding the full benefits of digital marketplaces. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing the overall sustainability and growth of FPOs in the evolving agricultural landscape.

Building Knowledge and Connections in the Community of Practice

In January, our Community of Practice hosted discussions on regulation and compliance in the BC sector, as well as sustainability and business viability. The network, now with 70 members, continues to grow as more people come together to share expertise. This fireside chat focused on these key challenges in the BC industry, exploring how BCs can stay up-to-date and compliant with regulations, while also addressing the need for smoother regulatory processes and increased cooperation with regulators. The conversation also examined potential mitigation strategies that BCs and regulatory bodies can implement to ensure a balanced approach to compliance that fosters both security and innovation.

For more details, click here
https://gfsi.in/innovations-in-digital-finance/

As part of GFSI’s Generating Rural Opportunities for Women Agri-entrepreneurship (GROW) program, we aim to create self-employment for 5,000 women Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs), who will, in turn, enhance the livelihoods of one million smallholder farmers (SHFs).

To strengthen AEs' technical skills, we launched a training program in January 2025 focused on plant health management, covering diagnosis, management, and CABI Digital Advisory Tools. This equips women farmers with app-based pathology recognition, enabling them to identify pests, assess their impact, and provide immediate solutions. After completing this training, AEs will support SHFs, address local agricultural challenges, and transfer technical knowledge and it would also expand their own agribusinesses.

In the long run, trained Agri-Entrepreneurs will become trusted agri-advisors to the farming community in their villages. The program’s impact is evident—72 transacting AEs generated Rs. 985,122 in revenue in January alone.

The Market Access eNabled by Digital Innovation (MANDI)-II program is making significant strides in connecting smallholder farmers to larger markets. Over 35 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have joined the ONDC platform, opening up new opportunities. Additionally, partnerships with Blinkit and Mother Dairy are creating regular supply chains for vegetables, benefiting farmers and strengthening market access.

Green Technologies for Women Farmers in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, 10 demonstration plots showcasing drip irrigation and mulching technologies have been established across FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations). Over 30 participants, including women farmers and local resource persons, have been trained in these sustainable farming practices. The goal of these demonstration plots is to promote climate-smart agriculture technologies, with key objectives including the efficient use of soil and water resources, enhancing crop productivity, reducing cultivation costs by minimizing the use of fertilizers and chemical sprays, improving the quality of produce, and introducing women-friendly tools that reduce physical labor and increase human efficiency.

GFSI shines bright at the 9th FPO Conclave & Agri Awards, hosted by The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry!

Celebrating innovation and resilience in agriculture, the event recognized the vital role of smallholders, women farmers, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in building a sustainable future. We took the center stage with the Outstanding Contribution to Agri Technology award and saw three supported FPOs winning big: Navchetna Agro Center won Excellence in Organic Farming, while Nari Kisan Kashi and Bishwarambha Nivedita FPCL received the Best Women-led FPO award. FPOs supported by us also showcased exciting products like pickles and spices, while Anita Yadav and Rahul Dube from our organisation shared insights as panelists on unlocking markets and cultivating capital for agricultural innovation. It was a celebration of progress and the power of collaboration in agriculture!

For more details, click here
https://gfsi.in/agriculture-and-livelihoods/

The Women-Agents of Change and Economic Empowerment (W-ACE) program is thriving with over 6,359 online transactions and 20,150 offline transactions in January 2025. In total, 26,509 transactions have been completed, generating a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of 1,97,56,740 and an income of 5,44,20,027.This program is helping women entrepreneurs earn more, with many participants reaching significant income levels. We are also continuing gender sensitization training to foster a more inclusive approach to business.

The gender sensitization training is playing a crucial role in breaking down barriers and challenging traditional gender roles within the business environment. By increasing awareness of gender biases and promoting empathy, this training helps create a workplace where everyone is treated fairly, given equal opportunities regardless of gender. It supports the development of a more supportive, inclusive and collaborative atmosphere, enabling women to thrive as leaders and entrepreneurs. Moreover, it encourages both men and women to engage in equal opportunities, paving the way for a more balanced and progressive business landscape.

Celebrating Success: Over 400 Active Grameen Mitras

The number of active Grameen Mitras (GMs) in the W-ACE program reached 402 in January 2025, with many GMs earning impressive incomes through both online and offline transactions. This program continues to support women’s financial growth and skill development.
For more details, click here
https://gfsi.in/women-economic-enable/

With the 10th and 12th Board exams approaching, Grameen Block coordinators visited 90 girls in Bhandara and Nagpur to check in on their preparations and offer counselling. The visits also included personal interviews and video shoots to document their experiences and provide encouragement.

Preparing Young Girls for Success

Two school visits were made in Bhandara and Nagpur, where coordinators interacted with girls and teachers to ensure that the girls feel confident and supported as they approach their exams.
For more details, click here
https://gfsi.in/portfolio/lakshyavati/