Following Programmes have been undertaken with the support of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD):

1. Financial Literacy Programmes (FLPs) to provide insights into formal credit avenues, accessing financial services and planning towards economic security. Over 600 participants trained from 2013-2015.

2. Skill Development Initiatives (SDI) in various districts of Uttar Pradesh to provide inputs in entrepreneurship & schemes of assistance, project selection & its pre-feasibility, project report preparation and management during the first quarter of 2020. – In the second quarter, SDI programme was conducted at Basti (Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning) and the study on Red Terracotta Pottery Industries with Special Reference to Villages under Bhathat Block of Gorakhpur District’ was completed.

• • A total of 60 trainees participated in SDI programmes conducted at Basti and Mau and 30 more trainees were a part of the ongoing two-month SDI programme being conducted at Deoria in the last quarter of 2020.
  • A total of 180 trainees participated in SDI programmes conducted at Deoria, Mau, Kushinagar, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar and Ballia in first quarter of 2021.
  • A total of 90 trainees participated in SDI programmes conducted at Shravasti, Jaunpur, and Unnao in second quarter of 2021.

3. Promotion of Women SHGs (WSHGs) in Dhenkanal, Odisha: This four-year project focused on providing poor households in rural hinterlands of Dhenkanal, access to sustainable banking services. The project supported livelihood development programmes for the poor, through formation of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs). As a result, 1000 WSHGs have been formed, 1000 savings bank accounts opened with cumulative savings of Rs. 85 lakhs and Rs. 362.63 lakh have been sanctioned and disbursed to WSHGs

4. Technology Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (TEDPs) in various districts of Uttar Pradesh to orient people towards the ways and means of adopting businesses that are based on technology.

5. Pottery Cluster Development Programme in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, a 5-year project aimed at revitalising the cluster on the parameters of processes, market, networks and innovations. (2015)

6. Wooden Toys & Jewellery Cluster Development Programme in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to revitalize the cluster.

7. Management Support for Implementation of DFID ‘Skill for Jobs’ Programme (2015) : The 5-year project supported by a consortium of technical agencies viz., Price-Water-House Coopers (PWC) Pvt. Ltd., Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, aims at developing ‘skills eco-system’ so that jobs could be generated for the poor.  The State Skill Development Missions of the respective states were provided capacity building support to develop an institutional structure to coordinate skill development initiatives; set up an effective mechanism to monitor skill building initiatives in the state; and establish skill development committees in high demand sectors involving sector-specific councils (SSCs) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

8. The NABARD-Bhubaneswar Project – ‘Sustaining Community Livelihood through Farming of Anantamula-A Herbal Creeper’, implemented in Kantol Gram Panchayat of Kankadahad Block, Dhenkanal District, focused on forming a ‘Growers Cooperative of Anantamula Herbs’ to ensure better practices for making it a commercially viable product. 1000 nurseries of Anantamula were raised and samplings distributed in three villages viz., Kadabapal, Bahadapal and Rekuti in Kantol panchayat involving 6 SHGs. (2013)

9. Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (MEDPs) on various trades were organised in Gorakhpur. The latest programme on Terracotta was conducted for 30 participants from 06 SHGs of Hafiznagar village of Bhatahat Block of Gorakhpur district. The programme organized during 11-23 February 2022 was sponsored by NABARD under Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDP) scheme. The objective of the training program was to ensure livelihood and income generation opportunities for the trainees (mostly SHG members) by way of placement or by helping them set up their own units. The programme inputs enhanced capacities of participants through appropriate skill upgradation in existing or new livelihood activities in farm or non-farm activities and enriched their knowledge on enterprise management, business dynamics and rural markets.

10. As NABARD’s agency for promoting Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) in the 21 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Districts in Odisha, the Institute sensitized women leaders from 50 WSHGs on the importance and role of WSHGs towards developing livelihood-based self-employment skills in under-developed and resource poor regions. (2012)

11. EDII has been awarded ‘Excellent Performance in NABARD sponsored SDI Programme’ in 2020. The award was presented by Hon’ble Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Suresh Khanna. 

12. NABARD (OFPO-PI) (2021)

EDII has been selected as the ‘Off-Farm Producer Organization-Promoting Institution’ for Gorakhpur Terracotta Cluster. Sponsored by NABARD, the project will focus on developing the socio-economic status of artisans of Gorakhpur Terracotta cluster. The main aim of OFPO is to ensure better income for the producers through an organization of their own.

As the Producer Organization Promoting Institution (POPI), EDII is carrying out cluster identification, diagnostic and feasibility studies, business planning, mobilization of artisans and registration/incorporation of PO, resource mobilization, development of management systems and procedures, and assessment and audit. The Institute will also build the capabilities of the Staff and Management of the PO through training and continuous hand-holding.

13. Diagnostic Study and DPR preparation of Duttapukur Terracotta and Pottery Cluster (2019)

Sponsored by NABARD, the activity focused on understanding prospects and constraints of the cluster, create need-based infrastructure, and upgrade the skill level of artisans to improve their standard of living.

14. Project Parisar was launched on 29^th September, 2021, at Mysore, in the presence of Chief General Manager, NABARD. The project focuses on the manufacture of coconut leaf straws from naturally fallen dried coconut leaves. Supported by NABARD under Gramya Vikas Nidhi Scheme and implemented by EDII, the project will support 100 rural women in generating income and employment through the production of coconut leaf straws.

The pilot project is proposed in five villages in Mysore District, Karnataka. The villages selected are Jaibheemngar, Mellahalli (Dairy), Mellahalli (Nayakarabeedi), Mati, and Makanahalli