Uninor has partnered with the Global Supplier for Mobile Association’s Mobile For Development Foundation, Inc. through its Connected Women programme to launch a new initiative, Project Sampark, to bridge the mobile gender gap. The initiative will enable Uninor assess the barriers that women face in accessing mobile services such as affordability, mental block or social stigma attached with women to own a handset. The project will also aim to enhance the adoption of mobile services among women especially in the rural India.

“The GSMA’s Connected Women Programme aims to increase women’s access to and use of mobile phones and life-enhancing mobile services. Generally, in developing markets the decision makers for women are the male members in the family and the Connected Women programme works to minimise this gender gap between men and women in accessing mobiles technology. We are pleased to be working with Uninor in India and are excited to see the results of this project in the coming year,” said Zouhair Khaliq, Managing Director, GSMA Mobile for Development.

The total investment over the seven-month duration of the project is estimated at $183,654. Uninor will be contributing $113,654 while GSMA will be granting $70,000 to financially support the project.

In the pilot phase, 87 villages of Aligarh district of western Uttar Pradesh have been identified to pilot the project by testing business case of a commercial offering that helps reduce a multitude of barriers women face in accessing mobile services. For the roll out of the pilot, 40 women and four supervisors will participate including influential women in the region who are Anganwadi and Accredited social health activists (ASHA) supporters who can persuasively spread the message.

Uninor will also train women entrepreneurs to make a livelihood by offering them an opportunity to sell mobile prepaid connections and recharge vouchers.

Speaking about the initiative, Morten Karlsen Sorby, Chief Executive Officer, Uninor said, “Mobile technology has the ability to change the way we communicate, but its effects are not evenly distributed. Gender disparity is also echoed in mobile usage. This is a significant area of concern and mobile connectivity can help deal with this developmental challenge. The launch of ‘Project Sampark’ is a first step in this direction and we are encouraged by the support from GSMA to endorse this initiative”.