New Delhi,  Under the Womens Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, a new partnership between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Reliance Foundation will bridge the gender and digital divide in India.

The partnership was announced at a W-GDP event on Tuesday, hosted by US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun along with special guest, Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the US President, and Deputy USAID Administrator Bonnie Glick.

Ivanka Trump said: "The W-GDP Fund was created to source and scale the most innovative programs to advance women's economic empowerment. We are leveraging the resources and expertise of the U.S. government and the private sector so that activities have enduring, deep effects on the communities they reach."

John Barsa, Acting Administrator, USAID, said: "Global prosperity will remain out of reach if we exclude half the population. At the US Agency for International Development (USAID), we believe investment in women is key to unlocking human potential on a transformational scale.

"The W-GDP Fund at USAID is financing innovative solutions to close the economic gap between women and men and help our partners advance on their Journeys to Self-Reliance."

At the event, through a virtual video message, Nita M. Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said: "I am delighted and proud to announce that Reliance Foundation is joining forces with W-GDP, through our partnership with USAID.

"Together, we shall launch the W-GDP WomenConnect Challenge across India, in the fall of 2020. At the heart of this partnership, is our shared goal to help bridge both the gender divide and the digital divide in India."

The W-GDP Women's Connect Challenge (WCC) supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expands business opportunities, and empowers women. As part of programme, W-GDP will partner with the Reliance Foundation to create an India-specific expression of the WCC and incorporate the lessons of previous W-GDP WCC Rounds.