Introduction

For women and girls who are survivors or at risk of human trafficking, access to safe and sustainable employment can be life-changing. Yet, in resource-constrained environments, delivering skilling programs that are engaging, scalable, and effective is fraught with challenges.

This case study explores how Techmantu partnered with Nomi Network, a non-profit dedicated to empowering vulnerable women and girls, to reimagine training delivery in India. Through a combination of content innovation, technology enablement, and trainer support, the partnership has created a scalable model for vocational and life skills training, one that blends resilience with opportunity, and equips women with the tools to build dignified futures.

About Nomi Network

Nomi Network operates in India, Cambodia, and the USA,  to create economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. The organization’s mission is to create pathways to safe and sustainable employment by equipping their program participants  with the necessary skills, confidence, and resilience to succeed in the workforce.

The organization runs two flagship programs:

• Workforce Development Program (WFD): Designed for women aged 18+, this program provides vocational and workforce readiness skills to enable access to safe jobs.
• Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP): Targeted at girls aged 12–17, this program focuses on empowerment, life skills, and future employability

Both programs combine life skills, financial literacy, vocational training, and workforce readiness, creating holistic training pathways that go beyond employment to foster agency and long-term resilience.

Scaling Vocational Training with Consistency and Impact

Nomi Network’s training model had strong foundations but faced systemic barriers that restricted both scale and effectiveness.

• Paper-based training limiting scale and engagement
  Manuals worked in small settings but created inconsistencies in larger rollouts.
• Diverse linguistic requirements
  Programs across multiple states needed localized content for relevance.
• Rural connectivity constraints
  Low bandwidth and low digital readiness hindered adoption of typical eLearning solutions.
• Gaps in life skills training
  The curriculum emphasized vocational skills but lacked structured life skills components, which are essential for success in both the workplace and daily life.
• Limited assessment systems
  Without a robust framework, tracking learner progress and outcomes was difficult.
• Inconsistent trainer quality
  Variation in trainer expertise and facilitation skills created uneven learning experiences.

Together, these barriers limited the program’s ability to deliver consistent, scalable, and measurable training outcomes.

 A Six-Point Digital Transformation Strategy

Techmantu designed a comprehensive digital-first strategy to overcome these barriers. Each component addressed a critical gap in the program.

• Curriculum Digitization
  The paper-based curriculum was transformed into digital instructor-led training (ILT) modules, improving delivery and classroom engagement. This ensured that all trainers had access to standardized, high-quality materials.
• Multilingual Content Production
  To make the program accessible across geographies, Techmantu produced 72 hours of structured content in four vernacular languages, supported by more than 100 custom videos. This allowed women from diverse regions to learn in their own language, improving comprehension and retention.
• Low-Bandwidth Technology Enablement
  Recognizing the realities of rural connectivity, a custom training app was developed and optimized for low-bandwidth environments. This ensured that training could be delivered seamlessly, even in areas with limited internet access.
• Life Skills Integration
  A contextual Life Skills Framework was developed and embedded into the curriculum. It covered areas such as problem-solving, decision-making, stress management, communication, and interpersonal skills — equipping women with holistic tools for both work and life.
• Assessment Framework
  A robust system was designed to track learner progress across program touchpoints. Trainers could record observations, and program leaders could monitor outcomes consistently. This introduced accountability and helped demonstrate measurable impact.
• Trainer Capacity Building
  Structured Training of Trainer (ToT) Programs were rolled out to enhance facilitation and subject expertise. This not only standardized delivery but also empowered trainers to engage classrooms more effectively.

In essence, Techmantu digitized and localized a paper-based ILT curriculum, delivering multilingual content and videos via a low-bandwidth training app. The program integrated life skills, robust assessments, and trainer capacity-building to enhance engagement, learning outcomes, and scalability across diverse environments.

The Impact: From 400 Training Hours to 5,000+ Lives Transformed

The transformation resulted in significant measurable outcomes that demonstrate both reach and depth of impact.

• 400+ hours of training content developed, replacing static manuals with engaging, multimedia-rich resources.
• 4+ vernacular languages supported, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
• 100+ custom videos produced, bringing concepts to life in relatable formats.
• 20+ organizations onboarded as implementation partners, expanding program reach.
• 5,000+ women trained in rural settings, many of whom now have access to safer, sustainable employment pathways.
• 25+ ToT programs delivered, strengthening facilitation quality across delivery sites.
• Deployment across 5 states and 30+ sites, creating a nationwide footprint.
• Visible increase in peer interaction and participation, as training became more engaging and interactive.
• Over 80% of learners demonstrated improved life skills understanding, highlighting the success of integrating life skills with vocational training.

By breaking the “paper ceiling,” Nomi Network’s program not only scaled but also deepened its impact, transforming learning outcomes and participation.

Conclusion

The partnership between Nomi Network and Techmantu demonstrates how thoughtful digital transformation can overcome structural barriers in vocational training. By combining digitization, multilingual content, low-bandwidth technology, life skills integration, robust assessments, and trainer capacity-building, the program delivered both scale and sustainability.

Most importantly, it empowered more than 5,000 women with not just vocational training, but also the life skills, confidence, and resilience needed to secure safe and dignified livelihoods.

For organizations seeking to drive large-scale social impact, this case study provides a powerful example of how breaking the “paper ceiling” can unlock new pathways to empowerment.