This publication serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the impact of technology in improving women's lives. It highlights interventions and shares lessons learned from the first round of the WomenConnect Challenge India. By showcasing the transformative potential of technology, it hopes to inspire further innovation and collaboration to reduce the gender digital divide in India. Launched in 2020 by Reliance Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), WomenConnect Challenge India calls for innovative solutions across the world to advance women’s social and economic circumstances by improving their access to and use of technology.

Through the WomenConnect Challenge India, Reliance Foundation and USAID have identified innovative solutions from not-for-profit organisations that empower women via access to and the use of digital technology to drive positive education and livelihood outcomes for themselves and their families. In Round 1, over 180 organisations applied. 10 organisations across India were selected and supported with grants of up to INR 1 crore each (approximately $120,000 each), between 2021 and early 2023.

Read the publication to know more about the key learnings on programmatic interventions to reduce the gender digital divide in India.

Reliance Foundation, The Observer Research Foundation and The United Nations India are hosting an event focused on bringing conversations about sustainability, growth and the global green transition to the G20 debate on September 23, 2022.

Areas of discussion include how women are redefining the pathways to change through utilising innovative technology in innovative ways in areas such as solutions in the areas of health, digital literacy, food security and nutrition, and will explore how access to digital resources is as well as enhancing their ability to access government schemes to empower not only themselves but also their communities, and to bring gender to the fore of the development discourse. The conversation also addresses the broader question of global cooperation and role of UN, G20 and other groups to help communities recover from the shocks of the pandemic and conflicts and use the digital medium to galvanise the journey to 2030.

International policy-makers, development and corporate sector leaders, and academics participate in the discussions.