How institutional reform is reshaping entrepreneurship support for women in India
This case study presents the experience of the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme), India, in applying the ILO’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Self-Check (WE-Check). It demonstrates how institutional reforms informed by evidence and women’s lived experiences can improve the accessibility, responsiveness and reach of entrepreneurship support services.
The National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme), under the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, undertook the ILO’s WE-Check process to strengthen its institutional capacity to serve women entrepreneurs. While ni-msme had a long-standing commitment to women’s entrepreneurship, its leadership recognised the need for more systematic and evidence-based approaches to make services more responsive to women’s needs.
Through WE-Check, ni-msme assessed how gender responsiveness was reflected in its policies, systems and service delivery. The process generated practical insights into challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and informed a set of institutional reforms. Early results from the implementation of the WE-Check Action Plan include improved campus facilities, such as childcare and lactation spaces, more flexible training schedules and delivery models, and strengthened systems for tracking sex-disaggregated data.
Programme data indicates a significant increase in women’s participation. Prior to 2024 (FY 2022–23 and 2023–24), female participation totalled 5,948 participants. Following the implementation of WE-Check (FY 2024–25 and partial FY 2025–26), this increased to 23,355 participants, representing an approximate 293 per cent rise. This increase reflects strengthened outreach and more gender-responsive programme design.