SEWA: Supporting Village-Level Organizations to Improve Rural Livelihoods

In spite of the rapid growth of the Indian economy, the fraction of the rural population living in poverty has declined only modestly. Increasing indebtedness, rises in input prices, and rapid commercialization have contributed to what some policymakers call “generalized rural distress.” Partly in response, the Indian government is in the process of scaling up a national rural livelihoods program that envisions a substantial role for nongovernmental organizations. This brief explores the determinants of the scaling-up path chosen, examines the effectiveness of village-based rural-livelihoods programs managed by the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and explores questions regarding the role of NGOs operating at scale.