Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF)

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) invites large private sector enterprises to apply for technical assistance to scale solutions to help close the gender digital divide. Successful enterprises will be provided with bespoke technical assistance to scale products, services or approaches that can significantly increase women’s access to and usage of the internet in the context of the digital economy.

This open, competitive award will provide the selected private sector companies with bespoke technical assistance to optimize and scale a solution that:

1. Drives digital inclusion for women through meaningful access to and use of accessible digital technology, particularly smartphones and the internet.
2. Significantly closes the gender digital divide in their context.
3. Is commercially sustainable and scalable.

WiDEF will provide selected applicants with technical assistance for up to two years to support their efforts to address the gender digital divide. This assistance will be focused on helping to unlock opportunities to significantly close the gender digital divide rather than supporting ongoing “business as usual” activities.

WiDEF is a joint effort between USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate progress on closing the gender digital divide and is committed to closing the gender digital divide by scaling evidence-based, proven solutions that improve women’s livelihoods, economic security and resilience.

Issuance Date: July 17, 2024
Closing Date: September 12, 2024
Closing Time: 11:59 pm BST.