Partners with Nudge Institute for a four-year Economic Inclusion Programme focused on women-led livelihoods in Gujarat and Jharkhand

DBS Foundation has partnered with The/Nudge Institute to start a Rs 65.56 crore (SGD 9.98 million) Economic Inclusion Programme aimed at uplifting 85,000 low income households in Gujarat and Jharkhand over the next four years.

The programme is designed to promote sustainable and dignified livelihoods, especially among women from remote, underserved communities. It will offer structured support through a 150 week skill building initiative, combining consumption and livelihood grants with training in agriculture, livestock, micro-enterprise and traditional crafts.

As per the press release the target beneficiaries are households earning below SGD 400 annually, with no assets, savings or access to formal credit. The initiative will provide skills in vegetable cultivation, poultry farming, dairy activities, tailoring, and crafts like cane work and pottery enabling women to develop at least two stable income sources.

Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said, “At the DBS Foundation, we’re committed to uplifting vulnerable communities and helping them move towards brighter, more sustainable futures. Beyond meeting essential needs, this programme by The/Nudge Institute will also focus on closing critical gaps such as financial literacy, thereby empowering beneficiaries to build resilience and long-term stability.”

The partnership builds on The/Nudge Institute’s evidence-based graduation approach to economic mobility. The intervention also addresses daily stressors such as nutrition, financial exclusion and gender-based barriers, while building financial and digital literacy, savings habits, scam awareness and access to government schemes.

“At The/Nudge Institute, we aim to enable skilling and foster a culture of self-reliance,” said Atul Satija, CEO and Founder. “This partnership with the DBS Foundation helps us scale a replicable model for inclusive growth and economic mobility.”
The initiative aligns with DBS Foundation’s long-term commitment of up to SGD 1 billion (Rs 6,500 crore) over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. In 2024 alone, the Foundation committed SGD 88 million to 15 new programmes across Asia.

In India, DBS Foundation has also partnered with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions to improve welfare entitlement awareness for 5,00,000 individuals and support over 50,000 nano-entrepreneurs on the path to financial inclusion.