Digital Empowerment for women

Connecting Women, Transforming Communities

Women's inclusion in digital technology is a crucial catalyst for education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and information access. The WomenConnect Challenge India was launched in 2020 with an aim to address the gender digital divide. This initiative identified and supported innovative solutions to empower women in India, facilitating their access to and use of digital technology to drive positive health, education and livelihood outcomes for themselves and their families.

Through Round 1, Reliance Foundation provided Rs. 8.5 crore ($1.1 million USD) in grants for 10 not-for-profit organisations between Rs. 75 Lakh to 1 crore ($100,000 - $135,000) each. Projects kicked off in July 2021 and focused on building entrepreneurship skills, relevant digital literacy for low-literate users, edutainment-based courseware, mentoring and value-chain linkages and support for women working in agriculture. These projects have reached and created a sustainable impact in the lives of over 320,000 women and girls directly and indirectly, spread over 19 states of India.

Building on the momentum from Round 1, Round 2 was launched in October 2022 to continue to discover innovative ways to bring women online with the support of their families and communities, and create sustainable long-term programming that helps bridge the gender digital divide.

The second round of the Indian chapter of WCC has now concluded, and an impact assessment study conducted by Population Council Consulting in 2025 surveyed 1,985 individuals from seven awardee organisations to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital literacy programme targeting women. The findings reveal significant progress: 97% of women had access to phones, with 75% using smartphones, enabling the program to shift focus from mere access to skill-building. 

Training efforts have successfully enhanced digital confidence, as 83% reported improved knowledge of phone functions, and women who owned phones demonstrated stronger digital skills, underscoring the importance of ownership for consistent learning. Over 80% increased their use of phones, social media, and digital payments, with 60% applying these skills to business activities, all reporting greater use of digital payments. Awareness of online risks was high, with 92% recognizing potential dangers and 75% understanding digital fraud, highlighting the effectiveness of safety education. Financial inclusion advanced as 98% had bank accounts and 64% used UPI for transactions. Empowerment extended beyond technology: 87% experienced greater freedom of movement, 80% felt more confident, and 77% took part in household decision-making, indicating a shift in traditional gender roles.

e-SafeHER Cyber Security Awareness Training

In April 2026, Reliance Foundation and C-DAC, Hyderabad, a scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India (GoI), announced the launch of e-SafeHER, a Cyber Security Awareness Training programme to enable one million women across rural India, to safely and confidently participate in the digital ecosystem.

This initiative is anchored under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) programme through C-DAC Hyderabad, enabling content and training material for dissemination. Reliance Foundation will catalyse dissemination in rural communities across India, working in particular through women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

e-SafeHer is another step forward in Reliance Foundation’s work to strengthen digital inclusion for women. It aims to strengthen last mile cybersecurity awareness – particularly among women in rural India, who are increasingly engaging with digital platforms for financial transactions, livelihoods, and access to essential services.