Published in UN Women

To mark International Women’s Day 2024, UN Women India and the Ford Foundation launched a captivating book titled “हम | When Women Lead,” featuring the extraordinary journeys of 75 women leaders from diverse backgrounds across India, who have transcended barriers, defied limits, and made a lasting impact on their communities.

“हम | When Women Lead” is a tribute, not just to the resilient spirit of women leaders in India – but their concrete contributions to nation building.

Coinciding with India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, which emphatically focused on women-led development, this project is not just a collection of stories; it’s an examination of women’s leadership as a key trigger of social transformation and progress.

The book also spotlights the critical importance of investing in women’s empowerment and leadership.

Ford Foundation President Darren Walker joined Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, and Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women at an event during the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to unveil this remarkable book. He remarked on Ford’s 72 years of partnership with India, supporting ideas, individuals, and institutions, have contributed significantly to nation-building. He emphasized that India is at a pivotal moment to harness its gender dividend, and that a concerted effort to galvanize India’s vibrant base of women leaders at the frontline will be the country’s unique advantage to contribute to SDGs.

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