India to Host BRICS Women Working Group Meeting in Kochi from 6-7 July 2026

**Executive Summary** India will host the BRICS Women Working Group (WWG) Meeting on 6–7 July 2026 in Kochi, Kerala, as part of its current BRICS Chairship. The meeting brings together senior officials from 11 member countries to deliberate on women's empowerment and build consensus on women-led development. This event follows three virtual preparatory meetings and serves as the foundation for the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting scheduled for 8–9 July 2026. **Key Points / Main Content** **Core Theme and Objectives** * The meeting is guided by the theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." * It utilizes a people-centric and humanity-first approach to advance cooperation across shared priorities. * The primary goal is to strengthen policy dialogue and deepen partnerships to advance a shared agenda for women-led development. **Strategic Priority Areas** * **Governance:** Focus on women in governance and leadership roles. * **Inclusion:** Enhancing women's digital and financial inclusion. * **Economic Empowerment:** Promoting women's entrepreneurship and skill development. * **Sustainability:** Strengthening women's roles in climate action, food security, and nutrition. **Context and Significance** * The BRICS group consists of 11 countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE). * Member countries represent approximately 40% of global GDP and 49.5% of the global population. * The "Women Track" is considered strategically vital as women's development shapes outcomes across every economic and social sector. **Preparatory and Future Milestones** * The Kochi meeting builds on virtual consultations held on 30 April, 22 May, and 29 June 2026. * Discussions in Kochi are expected to finalize key outcome documents for the subsequent Ministerial Meeting on 8–9 July 2026. **Impact Analysis** **BRICS Member Countries (Senior Government Officials)** **Impact** Officials are provided a platform to deliberate on key issues, align on four priority areas, and build consensus on international outcome documents. **Action Required** Officials must attend the Kochi meeting to advance discussions from previous virtual sessions and lay the foundation for the upcoming Ministerial Meeting. **Ministry of Women and Child Development (India)** **Impact** As the host under India's Chairship, the Ministry leads the coordination of the Women Track, setting the strategic agenda for the 11-member bloc. **Action Required** The Ministry must facilitate the two-day meeting in Kochi and ensure the progression of the "Building for Resilience" theme. **Women in BRICS Member Nations** **Impact** The strategic focus on political, social, and economic development aims to improve outcomes for women who constitute nearly half of the BRICS population. **Action Required** While no direct action from the general public is mandated, the document indicates that the resulting policy dialogues and practical cooperation are intended to drive their development.

Key Entities Referenced