MoRD and PCI India Sign Non-Financial MoU

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), today signed a Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Project Concern International (PCI) India to strengthen women-led enterprises (WLEs), particularly Self-Help Group (SHG)-led enterprises, through public procurement and market-linked enterprise development.

The MoU signing ceremony was held under the chairpersonship of Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development. The MoU was signed and exchanged between Ms. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary (Rural Livelihoods), Ministry of Rural Development, and Indrajit Chaudhuri, CEO & Country Director, PCI India.

The MoU formalises the collaboration initiated in 2022 under the initiative “Leveraging Public Procurement for Women’s Economic Empowerment”, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The partnership seeks to enhance the participation of women-led and SHG enterprises in government and institutional procurement through enterprise readiness, capacity building and market linkages.

The three-year MoU, covering 2026–2029, is non-financial in nature and involves no transfer of funds or financial obligation between the parties. Each party will bear its own costs for activities undertaken under the MoU.

The collaboration also contributes to the broader national goals of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Sustainable Development Goals and India’s Net Zero aspirations by promoting inclusive, sustainable and market-oriented livelihood opportunities for rural women. (UPDATED ON 29TH JULY 2026)