Across women’s cooperatives, strengthening an enterprise is closely tied to strengthening how it is governed and led. Capacity building at SEWA Cooperative Federation focuses on enabling women leaders to make decisions, manage enterprises, and work collectively over time.

This work takes different forms depending on context. It may involve supporting board members to understand their roles, strengthening financial and operational decision-making, or creating space for peer learning across cooperatives. Learning is shaped through engagement, reflection, and exposure..

Rather than focusing only on skills, capacity building also engages with how women see themselves as leaders within their cooperatives. This includes navigating responsibility, building confidence in decision-making, and participating more actively in governance processes.

This work cuts across sectors and stages of cooperative development. Some engagements are short-term and focused on specific needs. Others unfold over longer periods, as cooperatives strengthen and evolve.