**Executive Summary**
On May 8, 2026, NITI Aayog, in partnership with IIM Ahmedabad, the Gates Foundation, and the Government of Gujarat, organized a workshop to launch State and District Reports on SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The event focused on disseminating evidence-based findings to accelerate women-led development and localized action. Key objectives included strengthening monitoring systems and aligning budgets to achieve 2030 targets and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Report Launch and Strategic Goals**
* Launched the SDG 5 State and District Reports to serve as policy briefs for data-driven development.
* Focused on transitioning from broad policy approaches to granular, district-focused strategies.
* Aimed to identify achievements and priority areas at the local level to support progress toward 2030 targets.
**Monitoring and Evidence Systems**
* Stressed the importance of tech-enabled monitoring, time-bound evaluations, and gender-disaggregated data.
* Highlighted the need for robust district-level monitoring frameworks to ensure dynamic policymaking.
* Emphasized the use of insights to translate evidence into actionable strategies on the ground.
**Economic and Social Empowerment**
* Prioritized women’s economic empowerment through skilling, financial inclusion, and care economy support.
* Highlighted programs for women entrepreneurs and the importance of improved access to quality employment.
* Discussed behavioral interventions and grassroots institutional mechanisms to address gender norms.
**Governance and Implementation**
* Called for gender-responsive budgeting and the alignment of budgets with local needs.
* Stressed deepening convergence across various government schemes and targeted interventions responsive to local realities.
* Promoted community-led approaches to accelerate progress in every district and panchayat.
**Impact Analysis**
**State and Union Territory Governments**
**Impact**
They are provided with a critical tool for evidence-led decision-making and a better understanding of local challenges.
**Action Required**
Identify priority areas, strengthen convergence across existing schemes, and improve monitoring systems based on the new reports.
**District Administrations**
**Impact**
Empowered with localized data and policy briefs to drive SDG progress at the district and panchayat levels.
**Action Required**
Implement targeted interventions and design context-specific strategies to address local gender equality gaps.
**Women and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
Affected by increased focus on skilling, financial inclusion, and institutional support for enterprise and decision-making.
**Action Required**
Engage with community-led approaches and utilize available programs for economic and social empowerment.
Key Entities Referenced
Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): The central policy framework and theme of the workshop, focused on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
State Support Mission (SSM): An initiative by NITI Aayog designed to support States and Union Territories in achieving developmental goals through institutional strengthening.
SDG 5 State and District Reports: Key policy documents and data tools launched during the workshop to provide granular insights for evidence-based decision-making at local levels.
NITI Aayog: The primary policy think tank of India that organized the workshop to facilitate women-led development and monitor SDG progress.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The central government ministry responsible for launching the SDG reports and leading national strategies for gender equality and empowerment.
NITI Aayog
Workshop on Sustainable Development Goal 5
(Gender Equality) under the State Support
Mission of NITI Aayog
Posted On: 08 MAY 2026 5:19PM by PIB Delhi
NITI Aayog, in partnership with IIM Ahmedabad, Gates Foundation and the Government of Gujarat
organised the Workshop on SDG 5: Gender Equality at IIM Ahmedabad under the State Support Mission
(SSM). The purpose of the workshop was to launch the State and District Reports on SDG 5 and
disseminate their findings to accelerate women-led development.
The Workshop brought together senior government officials from States and Union Territories,
representatives from various Ministries of the Government of India, UN and international agencies
(UNDP, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, World Bank, etc.), along with NGOs and other experts working in the
field to share insights to drive evidence-based action at the district level. The technical sessions focused on
strengthening SDG 5 monitoring and evidence systems, women’s economic empowerment and social
empowerment of women.
The inaugural session was graced by Smt. Annpurna Devi, Minister of Women and Child Development,
Dr. Manisha Vakil, Minister (WCD), Government of Gujarat, Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog, Mr.
Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC), India and Prof Bharat Bhasker, Director,
IIM-A, among others.
During the Inaugural session, Smt. Annpurna Devi, Minister for Women and Child Development,
Government of India launched SDG 5 State and District Reports and highlighted the importance of good
data, robust ecosystems with tech-enabled monitoring and time-bound evaluations, for dynamic policy
making. Dr. Manisha Vakil, Minister for Women and Child Development, Social Justice and
Empowerment Department, Government of Gujarat, stressed the importance of implementation,
deepening convergence and targeted interventions that are responsive to local needs and realities. Dr. M.
Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog emphasised that the report will help identify achievements and priority
areas at the district level, support progress towards the 2030 targets and enable the sharing of success
stories across States and globally. Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIM-A highlighted the programs
implemented by IIM-A for women entrepreneurs. Mr. Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident
Coordinator (UNRC), India underscored that locally driven SDG progress reaching women and girls in
every district and panchayat will directly contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
State and District reports on SDG 5 are policy briefs, encouraging data for development to generate
insights and monitor progress across time, enabling more targeted interventions and budget alignment on
gender equality.
The technical sessions of the workshop focused on strengthening evidence-based policymaking,
advancing women’s economic empowerment and promoting community-led approaches for accelerating
progress towards SDG 5. Discussions highlighted the need for stronger gender-disaggregated data
systems, district-level monitoring frameworks, gender-responsive budgeting, skilling, financial inclusion,care economy support and improved access to quality employment and enterprise opportunities.
Deliberations also emphasised behavioural interventions and grassroots institutional mechanisms to
address gender norms and enhance women’s participation in social and economic decision-making.
Overall, the workshop reinforced the importance of moving from broad policy approaches to more
granular, district-focused strategies for advancing gender equality. The discussions demonstrated how the
SDG 5 State and District analysis can serve as a critical tool for supporting data and evidence-led
decision-making, enabling States and districts to understand local challenges better and design context-
specific interventions. The workshop marks an important stepping stone towards deeper engagement with
States and districts through continued handholding and policy support. The insights generated through this
initiative will support States in identifying priority areas, strengthening convergence across schemes,
improving monitoring systems, aligning budgets with local needs, and translating evidence into actionable
strategies on the ground to accelerate progress towards SDG 5.
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