Reliance Foundation has pledged up to $10 million to the Women in Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) to help bridge the gender digital divide in India. This fund, launched by US Vice President Kamala Harris in March 2023, is a collaborative effort involving U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to empower women economically and enhance their livelihoods through improved access to digital technology.
The WiDEF initiative seeks to identify and fund effective solutions that bolster women’s economic security and resilience. Managed by the GSMA Foundation with support from the global managing consortium, the fund aims to fulfill the 2023 G20 Leaders' commitment under India's presidency to halve the digital gender gap by 2030.
Reliance Foundation's substantial support is expected to double the available funding for WiDEF in India, allowing for the development of knowledge products, dissemination of promising practices, and bolstering measurement and learning for grantees.
“The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is a historic step for global collaboration to achieve the G20 commitment to close the gender digital divide by 2030 and Reliance Foundation is proud to come on board as a Global Anchor Partner,” said Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Foundation. “We are committed to increasing our efforts to advance digital inclusion to improve women’s livelihoods, economic security and resilience. Through WiDEF, Reliance Foundation will work together to accelerate innovative solutions to empower women through technology in India and also share best practices with other countries to help drive global progress towards this shared vision for a more equitable future.”
Dr Alexandria Huerta, Acting Mission Director at USAID/India, emphasized the importance of this partnership in advancing global development goals. Dr Huerta, said, “As the United States and India partner to advance and achieve global development goals, closing the gender digital divide is essential to progress in India and around the world. USAID is proud to partner with Reliance Foundation through the Women in the Digital Economy Fund to accelerate women’s economic empowerment. Building on our longstanding partnership and impactful results, USAID and Reliance Foundation aim to empower millions of women across India, ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy are accessible to all and fostering a more equitable future.”
This collaboration builds on the existing partnership between Reliance Foundation and USAID through the WomenConnect Challenge India, which focuses on improving women's access to technology.
In addition to its involvement in WiDEF, Reliance Foundation is also working with BMGF to empower one million women entrepreneurs across several Indian states. The organization is supporting the national roll-out of a Digital Skills Program, in collaboration with Reliance Jio and GSMA, aimed at training rural women and individuals from marginalized communities.
The US Government shares this vision, prioritizing women's economic empowerment and digital inclusion. Through initiatives like the South Asia Regional Digital Initiative, USAID has helped improve digital skills for over 16,000 women entrepreneurs, ensuring they can thrive in the formal economy.
Since its launch, WiDEF has garnered support from numerous partners in the global consortium, collectively pledging over $1.01 billion to promote gender digital equality. With Reliance Foundation's contribution, the initiative is poised to make a lasting impact on women’s economic empowerment in India and beyond.
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