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Case study · Women’s livelihoods
AU Udyogini
An independent midline assessment of women-led enterprises, income pathways and readiness to operate beyond grant support.
The inquiry
Could enterprise gains endure beyond support?
The assessment combined document review, interviews, focus groups and field observation across producer-company and individual-enterprise components.
It examined opportunity, income pathways, decision-making, market access and the financial sustainability of the institutional model.
Stakeholders
AU Small Finance Bank / AU Foundation; Pure India Trust; Gram Chetna Kendra; Maa Annapurna / Khejdi Mahila Producer Company; Nirjhari Women Artisans Producer Company; and individual women entrepreneurs.
What the evidence said
Progress and dependency appeared together.
Agency and opportunity
Participants reported gains in confidence and access to enterprise opportunities.
Financial depth
Financial literacy, decision-making autonomy and evidence of household-level profitability remained uneven.
Market readiness
Branding, sales channels, diversification and market intelligence required strengthening.
Institutional sustainability
Several components remained dependent on continuing funder or implementing-partner support.
What followed
Plan the transition, not only the intervention.
Recommendations included a phased 12–18 month withdrawal plan, performance-linked support, market research, product diversification, stronger partnerships and alternative revenue pathways.
Programme-reported turnover is not presented as independently proven household-income impact.