Prime Highlights-
- Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation roll out ₹25.84 crore in grants to six NGOs, aiming to expand digital access for nearly one million women.
- SheConnects Digital Accelerator India opens its second funding round, offering grants of up to ₹4.2 crore for post-pilot digital projects.
Key Facts-
- Myna Mahila Foundation, Digital Empowerment Foundation lead six-NGO grant cohort.
- GSMA Foundation backs 15-18 month projects across healthcare, livelihoods, public services.
Background-
Reliance Foundation and the Gates Foundation have pledged ₹25.84 crore to support six non-profit organisations that plan to bring digital access to nearly one million women over the coming 15 to 18 months.
The two foundations announced the commitment at an event in New Delhi that drew leaders from government, academia, civil society, philanthropy and the technology sector.
The initiative funds groups building technology-driven solutions across healthcare, livelihoods and public services to narrow the gender digital divide. The inaugural cohort includes Project Concern International India, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Myna Mahila Foundation, Digital Empowerment Foundation, ASPIRE and Chaitanya.
These organisations will roll out projects covering rural livelihoods, healthcare access, digital entrepreneurship and community-based digital literacy programmes.
The projects range from strengthening digital access for rural women entrepreneurs and supporting coastal fisherwomen with technology-enabled livelihood tools, to expanding healthcare access through chatbot platforms and building digital skills among self-help group members.
Deepthi Reddy, Chief of Women Empowerment at Reliance Foundation, said the accelerator aims to back organisations whose solutions can scale to reach more women nationwide. She added that the first cohort unites partners driving fresh approaches to boost women’s participation in the digital economy.
The foundations have also opened applications for the second round of the SheConnects Digital Accelerator India programme. Indian non-profits with post-pilot digital interventions ready for wider rollout can apply, with selected groups eligible for grants up to ₹4.2 crore each for projects spanning 15 to 18 months.
Saachi Bhalla, Deputy Director of Gender Equality at the Gates Foundation, said the accelerator helps organisations scale their digital inclusion work while building evidence that can guide similar programmes across India and other developing markets.
Winning organisations will also receive technical support, monitoring and evaluation guidance, capacity-building boot camps and peer-learning sessions through the GSMA Foundation, which backs the programme’s rollout in India.
