Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) 2024

Reach us on

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) has officially launched its inaugural call for applications, marking a significant step forward in addressing the gender digital gap.

For this round, WiDEF invites local entities to submit applications for grants and technical support to scale existing solutions that have made measurable progress toward closing the gender digital divide in their contexts and contribute to transformative approaches to digital inclusion.

WiDEF seeks to support entities that are rooted in the communities in which they seek to affect change and have demonstrated successful approaches to advancing gender equality and/or digital inclusion for women, girls, and other marginalized populations.

This funding opportunity aims to scale proven solutions that:

Drive digital inclusion for women through meaningful access to and use of digital technology
Significantly closes the gender digital divide in their context
Are economically sustainable and scalable.

WiDEF Funding Details

Support from WiDEF can include funding ranging from $500,000 – $1,500,000.
Awardees will also receive dedicated technical assistance on program design, implementation and measurement.

WiDEF ELIGIBILITY

Both local nonprofit and for-profit local entities are eligible for grant funding. Successful applications will propose:

A solution that advances digital inclusion broadly and aims to integrate and scale a proven solution to effectively address gender constraints and close the gender digital divide.
Specific integration of at least two of the core priority areas above, in addition to generating data and insights.
Clearly articulate which components of their existing or proposed programs are scalable across different contexts, and which are specific to the location/context of their pilot/current program.
Entities must have, or be able to adopt, gender-based violence mitigation policies for all digital inclusion activities.
Entities need to meet USAID Eligibility Requirements.

Preference will be given to women-led organizations proposing feminist, gender transformational solutions and entities with a demonstrated track record of supporting gender equality and the inclusion of marginalized populations. At least 50% of award funding will support entities in subSaharan Africa.

USAID Eligibility Checklist

All countries are eligible, excluding Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Haiti, Jordan, Syria, Venezuela; entries from India are ineligible for Round 1 funding as WiDEF will be launching India-specific funding opportunities in late 2024/early 2025.
Organizations need to fit the following USAID Local Entity criteria:
- Is legally organized under the laws of a country that is receiving assistance from USAID;
- Has its principal place of business or operations in a country receiving assistance from USAID;
- Is majority-owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance from USAID;
- And Is managed by a governing body, the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance from USAID.
Entities have, or are in the process of obtaining, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Entities are familiar with applicable sections in the Mandatory and Required-as Applicable Standard Provisions for Non- U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations.