Ethiopia Adopts India's DAY-NRLM Model for Poverty Alleviation and Women's Empowerment

(Representational Image)

New Delhi:

An Ethiopian governmental delegation has recently completed an extensive week-long educational visit to India, focusing on studying the implementation methods of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), India's premier program for combating poverty and enhancing women's economic empowerment.

The delegation from Ethiopia expressed their desire to implement knowledge gained from NRLM into their own Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and extended an invitation to Indian counterparts for future collaborative innovation efforts.

Representatives from the World Bank reaffirmed their dedication to supporting the transformation of women's livelihoods in Ethiopia and emphasized the crucial roles of government leadership, supportive policies, and private sector involvement, according to Thursday's official statement.

The concluding session was attended by Molalign Asfaw, Ethiopia's Deputy Ambassador to India, World Bank officials, and Rajeshwari S. M., Director of DAY-NRLM from the Ministry of Rural Development. The Ethiopian delegation comprised representatives from nine regions, one city administration, and two key sectors.

The delegates expressed gratitude for the comprehensive engagement, the expertise shown by Indian officials, and the valuable peer-to-peer knowledge exchange throughout their visit.

The delegation praised the standardization and adaptability of NRLM's design, particularly noting how the program customizes its structures to accommodate diverse local contexts.

They were especially impressed by the role of 'sakhis' - community-based facilitators who provide essential support and resources to women across rural India.

According to the official statement, the delegates highlighted several innovative aspects, including bank linkages, diversified livelihood activities, and departmental convergence as key elements contributing to women's social and economic empowerment.

Inspired by successful women's collectives, one delegate commented, "Women are the foundation of any economy. When we invest in women, we invest in the whole world."

During the final session, Ethiopia's Ambassador to India emphasized the long-standing partnership between both nations and the significance of continued policy exchanges in developing institutional frameworks and effective interventions.

He stressed the necessity of a comprehensive conceptual framework with constant monitoring to ensure policy inclusion and improvement.

The Ambassador acknowledged India's global leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and recognized Ethiopia's parallel efforts toward holistic sectoral collaboration.

He called for strengthening institutional commitments and adapting India's successful experiences to Ethiopia's specific context.