Home Meet WiDEF’s Inaugural Group of Awardees!
© DEMO
© DOT Kenya
© Ensibuuko
© Player First
© New Sun Road
Following a competitive first call for proposals, these ten organizations rose to the top for the innovation of their solutions and the scale of their impact. The awardees work across 10 countries and are all locally-led organizations.
The finalists will be awarded financial assistance of $500,000 – $1,500,000 USD to scale their solutions over the next two years. Learn more about the finalists below!
CITAD
Nigeria
CITAD is tackling the gender digital divide in northern Nigeria by enhancing young people’s digital skills, expanding their access to the Internet, and advocating for policies and practices that promote gender equality and inclusive civic engagement.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
Demo
Pakistan
DEMO is addressing Pakistan’s gender digital divide by providing digital entrepreneurial training to 10,000 female university students in remote and underserved regions, aiming to empower women and ensure financial independence.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
DOT Kenya
Kenya, Ethiopia
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), Kenya’s “Digital Skills at Scale” initiative, aims to empower 10,000 young women in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda with digital and entrepreneurial skills, addressing socioeconomic barriers and safety concerns, as well as fostering leadership through “Digital Champions” to drive community change.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
El Proyecto Hambre
Mexico, Malawi, Ghana
El Proyecto Hambre’s program “Empowering the Digitally Underserved” (EDU) program works to bridge the digital divide for indigenous persons, women, and people with disabilities in Mexico, Malawi and Ghana. The program focuses on increasing internet access and promoting participation in the digital economy.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
Ensibuuko
Tanzania, Ghana
Ensibuuko will digitize Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana by creating 5,000 digital savings groups led by young women with aspirations to empower 125,000 members with improved financial management and opportunities through digital innovation.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
KICTANet
Kenya
KICTANet’s “Empowering Kenya Rural Women Through Digital Literacy” program aims to boost digital inclusion for marginalized women in 21 rural counties by providing digital literacy training, affordable loans for devices, and comprehensive support.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
MESH
Kenya
MESH is the first online community for entrepreneurs in the informal economy, taking a radically different approach to data, unleashing its shared value to connect our members to each other and to opportunities and services in both the informal and formal world. MESH’s project with WiDEF will empower young women entrepreneurs with the digital literacy, social commerce and business skills, and confidence needed to overcome barriers and thrive in the digital economy. Through personalized learning pathways built on ground truths and safe online community spaces, the project aims to address the underlying challenges faced by urban and rural women to participate fully in the digital world.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
New Sun Road
Guatemala
New Sun Road’s Digital Community Centers (DCCs) are set to empower approximately 250,000 indigenous Guatemalan women by providing electrification, internet access, and digital literacy training in both Spanish and Mayan languages to remote communities, addressing barriers of isolation, education, and representation in the digital economy.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
SMART Regional Consultants
Kenya
Smart Regional Consultants (SRC) aims to bridge Northern Kenya’s digital gender divide by enhancing economic opportunities for rural women through digital literacy programs, leveraging five existing incubation centers, and influencing policy for a more inclusive digital economy.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
Tech Project Women
Nigeria
Tech Project Women, a feminist organization in Nigeria, seeks to enhance the personal and societal development of women and girls in peri-urban communities by improving digital skills, financial inclusion, and employability, while also addressing online harassment and gender-based violence.
Elevating digital literacy and skills Enhancing safety and security Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences Increased availability of relevant products
All focus areas
Elevating digital literacy and skills
Enhancing safety and security
Improved access to affordable devices and online experiences
Increased availability of relevant products
India Round is Open!
WiDEF invites local Indian entities to apply for funding to scale a solution that significantly enhances the digital inclusion of women.
Applications are open until 13 January 2025!