The Reliance Foundation and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the WomenConnect Challenge India to help close the gender digital divide in the country. Over ₹11 crores have been invested under this initiative, with the Reliance Foundation supporting ₹8.5 crores in grants in order to create innovative solutions to address the issue. Now, 10 organisations across India have been selected as grantees through the initiative. Over three lakh women and girls across 17 states will now benefit through this initiative to close the gender digital divide and increase women’s economic empowerment through technology.
“It has been our mission to enable and empower women in every walk of life,” Smt Nita M Ambani, Founder-Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said during the formal announcement. “When we launched Jio, we envisioned a digital revolution that will be an equal opportunity revolution. Through Jio, we have been providing affordable connectivity across the length and breadth of our country. Reliance Foundation has also been working in partnership with USAID towards bridging the gender digital divide in India. Technology is a powerful means to address and eliminate inequality. I congratulate and welcome on board the ten winners of our WomenConnect Challenge India on this journey of transformation.”
The WomenConnect Challenge was launched in August 2020, and 10 organisations were selected from among 180 applications. The organisations selected with grants worth ₹75 lacks to ₹1 crore each for over a period of 12 to 15 months. The Reliance Foundation and USAID hosted a Solvers Symposium with the semi-finalists and experts for capacity building and brainstorming. The solutions provided by the 10 grantees address women farmers, entrepreneurs, members of self-help groups to address social and cultural barriers to bridge the gender digital divide. The 10 grantees under this initiative are:
1. Anudip Foundation
2. Barefoot College International
3. Centre for Youth and Social Development
4. Friends of Women’s World Banking
5. Naandi Foundation
6. Professional Assistance for Development Action
7. Society for Development Alternatives
8. Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre
9. TNS India Foundation
10. ZMQ Development
Over the last few years, mobile internet awareness has been steadily improving among Indian women, and the numbers prove it: In 2017, around 19 per cent of women were aware of mobile internet, while this number increased to 53 per cent in 2020. Compared to 79 per cent men, 67 per cent women own a mobile phone. This considerable gender digital divide needs to be bridged, and the Reliance Foundation has been striving at it through a number of initiatives. A key player in this process has been Reliance Jio, which has brought about a pan-India digital revolution that transformed the lives of over 1.3 billion Indians. Today, with 120 million women users—a number which is growing rapidly each year—Jio has made an impact on the national and global fronts. The WomenConnect Challenge is expected to make a similar impact on bridging the gender gap.