Strengthening Economy from the Base-Up
Building an economy from the ground-up where grassroots women entrepreneurs can access the knowledge, tools, and networks to drive innovation, challenge exclusion, and generate dignified livelihoods for their communities
Our Pillars
Strengthening Community Institutions
Partner with Community-based Organizations (CBOs), cooperatives, and people’s organisations to strengthen the systems and strategies that enable them to organise collectively and claim ownership of their resources and rights
Supporting Grassroots Entrepreneurs
Work directly with grassroots women leaders and enterprises to innovate, design, strengthen, and grow economic entities that are sustainable, market-ready, and community-owned
Shaping Just and Sustainable Economies
Use insights from both institutions and enterprises to build alternative market structures, influence ecosystem actors, as well as policies and current narratives around development
BARI’s long-term strategic goal is to co-build a shared body of tools, knowledge, and alternatives that are collectively owned by grassroots institutions. This commons will help grassroots organisations and enterprises make informed decisions, negotiate fairer terms, and design local market systems that reflect values of dignity, care, and justice.
Current Partners
Varsha, Social Entrepreneur | Harda, Madhya Pradesh
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Varsha, 25, became the first woman in her family to work outside the home, breaking through financial constraints and social resistance. After working across tailoring, rural surveys, and field roles in tribal areas, Varsha launched a small-scale eco-friendly venture making pattal-dona (leaf plates) two years ago.
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Building on that experience, she now leads Chilauri, an enterprise that trains rural artisans and connects their handcrafted products to markets. Her vision is to build a thriving business that creates dignified income and employment for at least 50 women from her village and surrounding areas. At present, she works with 20 women across five villages, channeling local skills into market-ready products rooted in rural identity.
Neetu, Social Entrepreneur | Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh
Neetu is a grassroots leader from rural Madhya Pradesh. After working extensively with the State Rural Livelihoods Mission to strengthen women's collectives and promote sustainable livelihoods, she is now building her own village-based food enterprise.
Her new venture focuses on traditional food products made from traditional grains like millets, with an aim to preserve indigenous food knowledge while creating dignified income opportunities for rural women. Neetu’s vision is to enable decentralized manufacturing at the village level and build a thriving rural economy rooted in local capabilities.
Backed by a Master’s in Social Work, an MBA, and a postgraduate degree in Development Management from SPJIMR, Mumbai, Neetu combines deep field experience with strategic insight.
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Meet The Team
Divyaa Poonam Gupta
Divyaa Gupta is a gender and development professional with deep experience in women’s livelihoods and entrepreneurship. She led SEWA Cooperative Federation’s Women’s Enterprise Support System, scaling grassroots enterprises through government and market systems. Currently, she supports rural and urban women-led initiatives in program design, training, and fundraising. Her work consistently centers economic inclusion and empowerment for marginalized women. Divyaa brings a unique blend of grassroots insight and strategic vision to gender-equitable development.
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Kanchan Sharma
Kanchan Sharma is an architect and the co-founder of five-storey Solutions, a design firm offering customized interior spaces across Delhi-NCR. Her work in construction and design exposed the deep gender inequalities in the sector, which led her to co-found an initiative that aims to support women in breaking into male-dominated industries through skilling, community support, and employment. With over a decade of experience, Kanchan blends technical expertise with a strong commitment to equity. Her work reflects a deep belief in creating systems that enable women to thrive.
Anjali Evaney
Anjali Evaney has extensive experience across rural entrepreneurship, community development, and project management. She has worked with organizations such as Action for Social Advancement (ASA), and SRIJAN through the SWAR Fellowship.
Her expertise lies in strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). Anjali has successfully led initiatives in organic farming, credit linkages, and value chain analysis. A passionate advocate for women’s livelihoods, she launched the "Bamboo Cart" pilot project to provide employment to school-dropout girls through handicraft training. Additionally, as a young facilitator in her village communities, she has been chosen to represent India in UNICEF South Asia meet, and was awarded for her work in adolescent development.