Skill Building & Livelihoods
Unlocking economic potential through market-relevant skills and enabling stable livelihoods
Across India’s rural and semi-urban regions, women and young people often carry ambition that far outpaces opportunity. ESAF Foundation bridges this gap by equipping individuals from marginalised communities with skills and support through targeted training, enterprise development and tailored advisory services. Programmes build local expertise in agriculture, livestock care and clean energy, turning learning into income and entrepreneurship into lasting stability.
Our Impact
17,892 +
women entrepreneurs trained through skill development programmes.
2,195
enterprises supported with market access and linkages to strengthen local economies.
₹10,00,000+
in sales generated through ESAF Mahilodaya exhibitions
Our Impact
17,892 +
women entrepreneurs trained through skill development programmes.
2,195
enterprises supported with market access and linkages to strengthen local economies.
₹10,00,000+
in sales generated through ESAF Mahilodaya exhibitions
What We Do
We create pathways to income and independence by strengthening skills, supporting small enterprises and expanding access to real market opportunities.
Advance skills and micro-enterprise through ESAF SKILL LEAP
We offer tiered training and business acceleration under the SKILL LEAP programme, helping rural women and youth gain technical skills, certifications and confidence to build sustainable micro-enterprises in crafts, food, garments and eco-products.
Strengthen small businesses through ESAF Udyami and Mahilodaya
Entrepreneurs receive mentoring on branding, packaging, compliance and bookkeeping under ESAF Udyami, while seasonal sales platforms like Mahilodaya connect them directly to buyers, boosting visibility and income.
Support farmers through ESAF Krushakmitra
Trained local agri-entrepreneurs, or Krushakmitras, provide small farmers with services like nursery development, soil health checks, crop planning and digital banking support, building a robust ecosystem around farming.
Grow dairy livelihoods with ESAF Pashumitra
ESAF Pashumitras are rural youth trained in livestock care, artificial insemination and dairy service delivery, supporting thousands of dairy households to improve productivity, animal health and rural employment.
Promote clean energy entrepreneurship through ESAF Urjabandhu
This programme builds a network of youth and electricians trained to design, install and maintain solar energy systems, creating local green enterprises and expanding access to clean power in underserved areas.
Train rural youth for formal sector jobs under DDU-GKY
Through the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, young people from low-income households receive certified training in the BFSI sector with support to secure placements in stable formal employment.
Ensure quality and reach through national partnerships
Collaborations with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, MSME Ministry, agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras strengthen technical rigour, certification and scaling across all our programmes.
Advance skills and micro-enterprise through ESAF SKILL LEAP
We offer tiered training and business acceleration under the SKILL LEAP programme, helping rural women and youth gain technical skills, certifications and confidence to build sustainable micro-enterprises in crafts, food, garments and eco-products.
Strengthen small businesses through ESAF Udyami and Mahilodaya
Entrepreneurs receive mentoring on branding, packaging, compliance and bookkeeping under ESAF Udyami, while seasonal sales platforms like Mahilodaya connect them directly to buyers, boosting visibility and income.
Support farmers through ESAF Krushakmitra
Trained local agri-entrepreneurs, or Krushakmitras, provide small farmers with services like nursery development, soil health checks, crop planning and digital banking support, building a robust ecosystem around farming.
Grow dairy livelihoods with ESAF Pashumitra
ESAF Pashumitras are rural youth trained in livestock care, artificial insemination and dairy service delivery, supporting thousands of dairy households to improve productivity, animal health and rural employment.
Promote clean energy entrepreneurship through ESAF Urjabandhu
This programme builds a network of youth and electricians trained to design, install and maintain solar energy systems, creating local green enterprises and expanding access to clean power in underserved areas.
Train rural youth for formal sector jobs under DDU-GKY
Through the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, young people from low-income households receive certified training in the BFSI sector with support to secure placements in stable formal employment.
Ensure quality and reach through national partnerships
Collaborations with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, MSME Ministry, agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras strengthen technical rigour, certification and scaling across all our programmes.
From the Field
The Jobs That Start in Villages and Go Far
ESAF Foundation supports women and youth to build livelihoods that drive economic resilience and generational change.
Support Our Work
Your gift helps someone land their first job, start a small business or send their children to school. All of it begins with the chance to learn a skill.
Donate NowOur Projects
ESAF SKILL LEAP (Livelihood Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme)
Launched to strengthen local economies, this flagship programme supports women and youth to build viable enterprises through structured learning pathways. The programme has enabled micro-businesses to grow with targeted mentoring and access to real markets.
Partner:
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
As a Project Implementing Agency under the Skill India mission, ESAF Foundation delivers placement-linked training for rural youth from low-income households. The programme has supported transitions into formal employment across banking, retail and service sectors.
Partner:
Village Level Entrepreneurship Development Programme (VLEDP)
ESAF Foundation trains local entrepreneurs and service providers who improve agriculture, livestock, energy and beyond.
ESAF Krushakmitra: Empowering Local Agri-Entrepreneurs
By training rural youth as agri-entrepreneurs, this VLEDP ensures that farmers have access to vital services—nursery development, soil health support, and crop planning. Operating in three states, over 200 Krushakmitras have reached more than 15,000 farmers.
Partner:
ESAF Pashumitra
Rooted in dairy livelihood development, this VLEDP initiative equips rural youth with skills in livestock management, artificial insemination, and veterinary care. Over 135 trained Pashumitras are supporting 6,000+ dairy farmers across four states.
Partner:
ESAF Urjabandhu
A clean energy VLEDP that trains youth and electricians to promote solar energy adoption at the grassroots. The network has installed 10 MW of capacity and offset over 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Partner:
ESAF SKILL LEAP (Livelihood Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme)
Launched to strengthen local economies, this flagship programme supports women and youth to build viable enterprises through structured learning pathways. The programme has enabled micro-businesses to grow with targeted mentoring and access to real markets.
Partner:
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
As a Project Implementing Agency under the Skill India mission, ESAF Foundation delivers placement-linked training for rural youth from low-income households. The programme has supported transitions into formal employment across banking, retail and service sectors.
Partner:
Village Level Entrepreneurship Development Programme (VLEDP)
ESAF Foundation trains local entrepreneurs and service providers who improve agriculture, livestock, energy and beyond.
ESAF Krushakmitra: Empowering Local Agri-Entrepreneurs
By training rural youth as agri-entrepreneurs, this VLEDP ensures that farmers have access to vital services—nursery development, soil health support, and crop planning. Operating in three states, over 200 Krushakmitras have reached more than 15,000 farmers.
Partner:
ESAF Pashumitra
Rooted in dairy livelihood development, this VLEDP initiative equips rural youth with skills in livestock management, artificial insemination, and veterinary care. Over 135 trained Pashumitras are supporting 6,000+ dairy farmers across four states.
Partner:
ESAF Urjabandhu
A clean energy VLEDP that trains youth and electricians to promote solar energy adoption at the grassroots. The network has installed 10 MW of capacity and offset over 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Partner:
