Written by Akansha Kasera and Mercy Wachira

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Access to the internet means access to a whole new economy for millions of women and girls. However, across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), women are less likely than men to use the internet or to own a smartphone. This gender digital divide is particularly striking in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where women are 31% and 32% less likely than men to use mobile internet, respectively. Closing the digital divide would not only transform the lives of women and girls around the globe, but it would also transform the global economy. There is a significant commercial opportunity for private sector enterprises to address this persistent gender digital divide. GSMA estimates that closing the gender gap in mobile ownership and use in LMICs over an eight-year period could deliver $230 billion in additional revenue to the mobile industry.

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund’s latest call for applications is aimed at large private sector enterprises (more than 249 employees) to support the scaling of proven solutions. Enterprises will need to provide evidence that the proposed solution can increase women’s adoption or usage of the internet. Evidence can include results from a pilot or evaluation showing traction of a product or service by women customers either in the enterprise’s current market or other markets.

This open competitive round will provide tailored technical assistance—valued in the range of USD $50,000 to $150,000 for up to two years—by engaging suppliers and experts to iterate on the offerings of the selected enterprises and to maximize possible impact.

Specifics of the Technical Assistance Round

This technical assistance round will unlock opportunities to significantly close the gender digital divide by supporting solutions beyond an enterprise’s ongoing “business as usual” activities. Enterprises will need to demonstrate a strong commitment and buy-in from senior leadership to close the gender digital divide, which can include efforts to ensure diversity in the workforce or implementation of existing products or services that seek to reach women. In addition, enterprises should present evidence in their applications that the proposed solution is commercially sustainable and scalable in the long run. Examples of the kind of technical support available include but are not limited to:

• Research into the principal barriers and needs of underserved segments of women to inform actions to better support them to access and use digital technology and the internet
• Evaluation of existing products and services for women to inform their evolution and wider usage of digital technology
• Testing specific approaches and services to ensure they best meet the needs of underserved and unserved women
• Product adaptation and iteration, including the analysis of service usage data, user feedback, and further design research
• Business modeling and support for scaling digital products and services

Check Your Eligibility!

• Does your enterprise have more than 249 employees?
• Are you proposing a proven, digital solution that addresses at least two of our core priority areas?
• Is your solution commercially sustainable and scalable?
• Does your enterprise have a strong commitment to gender equality and local presence/partnership in an eligible country where USAID operates?

If you answered “yes” to the questions above, then your enterprise could be eligible for assistance!

Tips for Applicants

Pro Tip: The application form link on our website will take you to the Fluxx portal. You will need to register your enterprise before starting your application. Remember to confirm your eligibility first based on the criteria above.

Pro Tip: Use the Request for Applications document for a preview of the application form to prepare your answers within the required character limit before starting the online form.

Pro Tip: Review our recently published Q&A document for a step-by-step guide to navigate the Fluxx portal.

Pro Tip: Watch our informational webinar for a detailed understanding of the eligibility criteria.

Pro Tip: Key information is captured in WiDEF’s Request for Applications document. Read it carefully!

Interested? The application window is NOW OPEN and will close on 12 September, 11:59 PM BST / 6:59 pm ET.

About WiDEF

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is a joint effort between USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate progress on closing the gender digital divide. WiDEF identifies, directly funds, and accelerates investment in proven solutions to close the gender digital divide, improving women’s livelihoods, economic security, and resilience. WiDEF is managed by CARE, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, and the GSMA Foundation.