Reliance Foundation invests $1.1 million to elevate Country's Gender Digital Divide
As part of the Women Connect Challenge India, the Reliance Foundation, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has chosen ten groups from throughout India. The Reliance Foundation has committed Rs 8.5 crore (over $1.1 million USD) out of a total of Rs 11 crores (over $1.5 million USD) in initiatives aimed at developing innovative solutions to alleviate the country's gender digital divide. By improving their economic empowerment through technology, such projects are expected to help roughly 3 lakh (300,000) women and girls throughout 17 states.
Anudip Foundation, Barefoot College International, Centre for Youth and Social Development, Friends of Women's World Banking, Naandi Foundation, Professional Assistance for Development Action, Society for Development Alternatives, Solidaridad Regional Expertise Center, TNS India Foundation, and ZMQ Development are among the grantees for the initiative. The solutions are aimed at bridging the gender digital divide experienced by women farmers, entrepreneurs, and members of self-help groups by tackling social and cultural barriers.
“It has been our mission to enable and empower women in every walk of life. When we launched Jio, we envisioned a digital revolution that will be an equal opportunity revolution,” said Nita M Ambani, Founder-Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. She highlighted Jio’s role in providing affordable connectivity across the country. She further added, “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.” Mrs Ambani also congratulated the winners of the WomenConnect Challenge India.
In August 2020, the WomenConnect Challenge India was announced. Ten organisations were chosen from a pool of over 180 applicants and awarded funding ranging from INR 75 lakhs to 1 crore ($100,000 – $135,000) for a period of 12 to 15 months. In January 2021, USAID and the Reliance Foundation co-hosted a Solvers Symposium, which brought together semi-finalists and outside experts for capacity building and brainstorming on India's gender digital divide.
Anudip Foundation, Barefoot College International, Centre for Youth and Social Development, Friends of Women's World Banking, Naandi Foundation, Professional Assistance for Development Action, Society for Development Alternatives, Solidaridad Regional Expertise Center, TNS India Foundation, and ZMQ Development are among the grantees for the initiative. The solutions are aimed at bridging the gender digital divide experienced by women farmers, entrepreneurs, and members of self-help groups by tackling social and cultural barriers.
“It has been our mission to enable and empower women in every walk of life. When we launched Jio, we envisioned a digital revolution that will be an equal opportunity revolution,” said Nita M Ambani, Founder-Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. She highlighted Jio’s role in providing affordable connectivity across the country. She further added, “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.” Mrs Ambani also congratulated the winners of the WomenConnect Challenge India.
In August 2020, the WomenConnect Challenge India was announced. Ten organisations were chosen from a pool of over 180 applicants and awarded funding ranging from INR 75 lakhs to 1 crore ($100,000 – $135,000) for a period of 12 to 15 months. In January 2021, USAID and the Reliance Foundation co-hosted a Solvers Symposium, which brought together semi-finalists and outside experts for capacity building and brainstorming on India's gender digital divide.
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