The program is intended for grass-root level, under–privileged women, from either rural or urban areas who have excelled as social change leaders in the fields of education or health or micro-enterprise.

The nominee’s accomplishments over the last three years will be evaluated. Where the nominee is part of a project, we will seek information on the impact of the nominee’s individual efforts on the community, rather than the overall project outcomes.

The nominee may be running her own initiative or organization. Or she could be employed by another non-profit organization. Alternatively, she could be working as an individual volunteer (e.g. ASHA, Community mobilizer) or be part of the local government system (i.e. a sarpanch) or a government employee from the grassroots
(ANM, AWW).

The Program will encourage women who have not had an opportunity to study, or have studied against all odds, or have achieved several milestones without any formal or informal education. Women who have done exemplary work at a young age will also be encouraged.

Regardless of the formal nature of her employment/work, the nominee should be a self-motivated woman who exhibits role-model leadership skills.

Participants of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Program are expected to deepen and scale their ideas and programs for social change. Therefore, only those nominees who are willing to participate in leadership trainings, mentoring and capacity building initiatives, as well as willing to build the Woman Exemplar network may be nominated.