Reliance Foundation has pledged a substantial $10 million commitment to the Women in Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), a joint initiative with USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This partnership, introduced by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in 2023, focuses on reducing the digital gender gap and empowering women economically through technology-driven solutions.
Reliance Foundation’s contribution will double WiDEF’s funding in India, aligning with the G20 Leaders’ 2023 goal of halving the digital gender gap by 2030. The initiative not only seeks to enhance women’s digital access but also aims to provide critical digital skills, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, making technology more accessible to millions of women. The effort extends beyond just training, as it supports the development of innovative solutions and the sharing of best practices across countries to achieve global progress in digital inclusion.
This collaboration builds on existing programs like the WomenConnect Challenge India, which has already reached over 600,000 women, and is further complemented by Reliance’s work with Jio and GSMA to implement a nationwide Digital Skills Program. The focus is on enabling women entrepreneurs and ensuring they have the digital tools and literacy to engage more effectively in the formal economy.
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With a global consortium of partners having pledged over $1.01 billion to WiDEF, this initiative is poised to drive significant change in bridging the gender digital divide, both in India and globally.
