Reema Nanavaty of SEWA receives 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award
Why in the news
Reema Nanavaty, Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), was honoured with the 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award at a ceremony in Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, on October 15, 2026.
Key facts
- Award: Hillary Rodham Clinton Award, presented by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and GIWPS.
- 2026 theme: leaders who widen economic opportunity for women.
- Co-awardees: designer and philanthropist Tory Burch and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank.
- Muna Sukhtian of Microfund for Women received the first Georgetown Ambassadors Award at the same event.
- Earlier awardees include Julia Gillard and William Hague.
| 2026 awardee | Known for |
|---|---|
| Reema Nanavaty | Director, SEWA (India) |
| Tory Burch | Founder, Tory Burch Foundation |
| Muhammad Yunus | Founder, Grameen Bank; former Chief Adviser of Bangladesh |
About Reema Nanavaty
Under her leadership SEWA grew into India’s largest union of informal sector workers. She built women-owned enterprises and supply chains in energy, agribusiness, food processing, waste recycling and textiles. She launched SEWA’s food security programme reaching one million households, heads the Hariyali green energy and livelihoods initiative, and has worked on rehabilitation in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013.
Exam angle
- The award is linked to Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
- Padma Shri is India’s fourth highest civilian award.
- Remember the Hariyali initiative and SEWA’s food security programme.