Home ›› 07 May 2023 ›› Corporate
The Internet Society Foundation has announced a new round of its grant programme to promote economic growth and increases educational opportunities by provisioning individuals and communities to use the Internet in more efficient way.
The grants of up to $250,000 for eligible organisations in Bangladesh will support Internet knowledge and skills, increasing economic inclusion and educational opportunities, said a press release.
The Strengthening Communities, Improving Lives and Livelihood (SCILLS) Programme is now open to eligible organisations in Bangladesh with grants for projects lasting up to two years.
The application programme is now open starting from May 1 and will conclude by May 31 while the provisional award notifications will take place in August 2023.
According to the ‘Digital 2023: Global Digital Insights’, 38.9 per cent of individuals use the Internet in Bangladesh. The Internet Society Foundation is seeking projects in Bangladesh that aim to capitalise on this expanding access by securing educational opportunities and supporting economic inclusion for underserved and unserved communities.
This includes leveraging the Internet to increase access to high-quality primary and secondary education and improve learning outcomes; improving virtual teaching and distance learning methodologies and skills; building financial opportunities; increasing economic independence; and creating sustainable income sources.
“The Internet has the power to transform lives, but access alone is not enough,” said Sarah Armstrong, executive director of the Internet Society Foundation. “We must ensure that everyone has the skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that the internet provides. Our goal is to empower individuals and communities with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage digital technologies and tools and to participate actively in the digital economy. This new round of SCILLS programme grants will support organisations that connect underserved communities with the critical digital skills needed to unlock economic growth and educational opportunities.”
The beneficiaries in Bangladesh of the SCILLS grant last year include- Tech Soup in partnership with Tech for Bangladesh which promotes the use of mobile Internet for learning in Bangladesh, building the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours for 5,000 marginalised children, 200 teachers, and 2,000 parents to adopt online learning.
And Christian Aid which is building a vibrant community of female small business owners in Kurigram district, Bangladesh, through the power of e-commerce. Foundation for Learning Equality is supporting teaching and learning with locally relevant learning resources for use in low-connectivity learning environments.
The SCILLS programme operates in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. With this round, the six target countries are Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, and Senegal.
Applications must be submitted through Fluxx, the online grant management system.
