Uninor initiative showcased during mWomen launch

Uninor’s partnership with Hand in Hand, an international NGO, was showcased during the GSM Association’s mWomen initiative launch in Washington, D.C., on October 7. During the event, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former first lady of Britain Cherie Blair voiced their support for increasing women’s access to mobile technology.

“The GSMA is pleased to see how forward-thinking Uninor is in its plans close the mobile gender gap by both engaging and empowering women through the use of mobile technology,” said Chris Locke, managing director, GSMA Development Fund. “We know that mobile phones have proven to be a major driver for good in society, and in particular we know the ubiquity of mobile phones is bringing life changing benefits to those most in need in the developing world.”

Uninor and Hand in Hand “Citizen Centers” showcased during the mWomen launch

Last June, Uninor partnered with the India chapter of Hand in Hand to start the “Citizen Center” project. The goal was to encourage female entrepreneurship in local communities in the rural villages of Tamil Nadu, India. The Uninor and Hand in Hand program was selected by the GSM Association’s mWomen initiative within four months of its initial launch. It was the only entry selected from India.

How Citizen Centers encourage female entrepreneurship

Through this project, women are provided with computer training and opportunities to do business through communications services. The trained female entrepreneurs are also managing self-help groups for prospective entrepreneurial candidates, sharing the skills and knowledge they’ve gained through the program.

“The Citizen Center project is a unique initiative that not only provides livelihood to women in India but also helps to bridge the mobile gender gap,” said Madhu Sing Sirohi, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Uninor. Every entrepreneur in the program is given the chance to manage her own Citizen Center.

More Citizen Centers coming soon

Citizen Centers serve as meeting spots, information technology hubs and mobile services outlets in their respective communities. In addition to access to communication services, the women managing Citizen Centers can also offer training in HSSE, vocational training and certificate courses in computer education to the wider local community. Through self-help groups the entrepreneurs share their skills and knowledge with other would-be women entrepreneurs. Due to success of the Citizen Center entrepreneurs, Uninor is expanding the program and will be establishing 500 additional centers across Tamil Nadu.

“With women training others to improve computer proficiency and business skills, there is a self-propagating effect that leads to the creation of many more Citizen Centers and female entrepreneurs,” said Rajiv Bawa, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Uninor.

mWomen initiative focuses on mobile inclusion of women

The mWomen initiative was established because mobile phone ownership provides distinct benefits to women, including improved access to education, health, business and employment opportunities. However, studies show that women are 21 percent less likely to own a mobile phone than a man in low and middle income countries. The mWomen initiative focuses on mobile inclusion of women and aims to reduce this mobile gender gap from 300 million to 150 million within three years.

“This project is now a part of a global goal that is supported by global leaders and organizations. Through partnership with GSMA, we hope to play our part in achieving this goal,” said Bawa.

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