Empowering rural communities through evidence: Learnings from National Rural Livelihoods Mission

India’s National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), including its enhanced phase under the National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP), represents one of the largest government efforts globally to reduce rural poverty through women-led self-help groups (SHGs) and community institutions. Over the past decade, these programs have aimed to strengthen financial inclusion, build social capital, and improve the livelihoods of millions of rural households.

3ie has partnered with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and key implementing agencies to undertake rigorous impact evaluations that assess the effectiveness and equity of these programs across multiple states. These evaluations offer timely and policy-relevant evidence on what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements can be made. As the NRLM enters a new strategic phase and the government explores scaling innovations and targeted investments, it is crucial to ground future directions in data and community voice. 

This event seeks to bring together policymakers, researchers, implementers, and SHG members in a shared dialogue. It will showcase emerging findings, facilitate reflection on policy implications, and elevate the voices of rural women who are central to NRLM’s success. The event also aims to explore how insights from the evaluations can be translated into action—both within government systems and through support from development partners. In doing so, it builds a bridge between evidence generation and decision-making for inclusive, sustainable rural development.