Reema Nanavaty
Director, Economic & Rural DevelopmentSelf Employed Women Association
Biography
Joined SEWA in 1984. She expanded membership to new heights making SEWA the single largest union of informal sector workers.
I oversees organizing and development of 3.2 million members, pan India, and also in 7 South-Asian countries, focusing on women’s economic empowerment by building women owned enterprises – in Energy, Agribusiness, Food Processing, Waste recycling, Textile and garmenting.
I was invited to the ILO’s High Level Global Commission on Future of Work as the only member. I was invited as a member of the working group for the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and as a Gender lead in the Working group for the UNFSS, both convened by UN General Secretary in the UNGA, Sep 2021. I was one of the only worker’s representative invited to speak alongside UN secretary General Antonio Gueteras in the Official Opening Ceremony of the UNFSS 2021. I was a member of the Advisory committee of World Bank on Gender.
Honored by Padmashri for contribution in area of Social Services.
Expertise
Clean EnergyClean WaterEarly Childhood to Primary EducationEconomic OpportunityEducationEnvironmental SustainabilityFinancial ServicesHuman RightsLivelihoodsLiving ConditionsPeacePeace and Human RightsResponsible Supply ChainsSanitationSmallholder ProductivitySustainable MarketsWater ManagementWomen's and Girls' EducationYouth Job Skills
