Jharkhand & Odisha, India

MPowered

Digital, Financial & Livelihood Inclusion for Ultra-Poor Women

Partner:

Putting Power and Opportunity into Women’s Hands

MPowered empowers ultra-poor women living on less than USD $1.25 per day to build sustainable livelihoods through financial, digital, and social inclusion—using smartphones as a catalyst for change.

2016-2023

women reached

WHY MPowered?

Women living in extreme poverty often lack access to income, technology, financial services, and information—keeping them locked out of opportunity. MPowered adapts Trickle Up’s Graduation Approach by placing smartphones directly in women’s hands, enabling them to access knowledge, markets, and services that drive lasting change.

 

Where We Worked

Jharkhand and Odisha, India

Rural, resource-constrained communities

Areas with a high dependence on agriculture, livestock, and informal labor

Areas with limited access to digital tools and government services

How MPowered Works

MPowered combines livelihood development with digital inclusion to create sustainable pathways out of poverty. Core interventions included:

Livelihood coaching and mentoring

Seed grants to start or expand businesses

Smartphones with the Package of Practice (PoP) app

Digital and financial literacy training

Linkages to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and government programs

Key Program Activities

Coaching by Smart Sakhis

Regular sessions on livelihoods, digital and financial literacy, nutrition, soft skills, and government entitlements

Seed Grants

Startup capital to diversify livelihoods, including agriculture, livestock, and micro-enterprises

Smartphones & Digital Training

Women receive smartphones and training on mobile use, apps, and digital payments

Livelihood Training

Agriculture, nutri-gardens, livestock rearing, broom making, vermicomposting, and other trade skills

Self Help Group Linkages

Savings habits, access to low-interest loans, and financial empowerment

Government Program Access

Support to access food rations, housing, employment guarantees, and insurance

Smart Cookstoves & Nutri-Gardens

Healthier cooking environments and improved household nutrition

Our Reach

women trained and coached

%

received coaching from Smart Sakhis

%

received smartphones

%

joined Self-Help Groups

RESULTS

Impact at a Glance

  • 10:1 return on investment: For every rupee invested, MPowered generated ten rupees in social and economic value
  • Reduced reliance on migrant labor
  • Increased self-employment and local economic activity
  • Strong community spillover effects through peer learning

Income & Livelihoods

  • 74% of women increased their income
  • 42% diversified into new income-generating activities
  • Livestock ownership rose to 94% in Jharkhand and 87% in Odisha
  • 72% earned higher prices for livestock through better market timing

Common enterprises

  • Grocery shops (55%)
  • Vegetable vending (15%)
  • Tailoring (13%)

Food Security & Nutrition

  • 97% reported no food shortages in the last six months
  • 81% created kitchen gardens
  • Improved nutritional knowledge led to more balanced diets

Savings & Financial Inclusion

  • 98% of women now have savings (up from 59%)
  • Average savings reached INR 8,576 over two years
  • Bank account ownership increased to 98–100% across both states
  • Self Help Group participation rose to 90–99%

Digital Inclusion

Smartphone ownership increased from 8% to 61%, unlocking access to:

  • Market information and pricing
  • Government services and entitlements
  • Digital payments (PhonePe, Google Pay)
  • Learning platforms like YouTube

45% regularly use the PoP app or other smartphone applications.

“Women are using smartphones to learn, sell produce, and earn money. YouTube has become a powerful learning tool.” — Smart Sakhi, Odisha

Confidence & Social Inclusion

  • 95% feel confident making business decisions
  • 74% report improved communication
  • 46% report increased confidence
  • 27% report greater independence

Women are now participating in household decisions, village meetings, and market negotiations.

“The fear of speaking up and going outside has diminished.” — Women’s Focus Group, Jharkhand

Climate-Resilient Livelihoods

MPowered introduced eco-friendly farming practices that improved productivity while reducing costs:

  • Vermicomposting and organic fertilizers
  • Intercropping and line sowing
  • Improved seed varieties and livestock care

These approaches strengthened climate resilience and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.

Lessons Learned

  1. Digital tools accelerate inclusion when paired with coaching
  2. Smartphones unlock access to knowledge, markets, and services
  3. Savings, confidence, and skills together drive lasting change
  4. Women become powerful agents of community-wide progress

Looking Ahead

MPowered shows that when ultra-poor women gain access to livelihoods, technology, and support networks, they don’t just improve their own lives—they strengthen families, communities, and local economies. Invest in women. Invest in digital inclusion. Invest in lasting change.