The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) has officially launched a new round of funding on November 12, 2024, in New Delhi, where over 80 attendees gathered. WiDEF in India is a collaborative effort involving USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Reliance Foundation, managed by the GSMA Foundation to enhance digital inclusion for women across India.

This was an invite-only event that included multiple panel discussions covering topics such as WiDEF in India: Vision & Strategy, Empowering Women in the Digital Economy, and sharing personal experiences from partner programs that highlight the importance of digital inclusion for women. The event featured prominent speakers from the gender equality and digital inclusion sectors, including Steve Olive (USAID Mission Director), Arjun Venkatraman (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Vanita Sharma (Reliance Foundation) and more. They provided valuable insights on the significance of addressing the gender digital divide and discussed the potential impact of this funding opportunity.

Event Highlights:

• Launch of WiDEF India Round: Detailed information about the funding opportunities for local Indian entities to close the gender digital divide in India
• Insights from Leaders: Keynote speeches and panel discussions focused on strategies for advancing digital inclusion.
• Networking Lunch: Attendees had the chance to connect with peers and WiDEF partners.

For information on eligibility criteria, evaluation standards, and funding priorities for this WiDEF round, please visit the WiDEF in India webpage.