Digital Empowerment Foundation, DEF

The Manthan Award

This programmatic area addresses the goal of creating the knowledge network and database needed to know about best practices in the field of ICT for Development, which is DEF’s chosen area of work given its broad mandate of digital inclusion flowing from its mission and vision statements. All projects in this area have the overarching goal of creating a knowledge network and database of all kinds of digital interventions aimed at socio-economic development and empowerment of people and communities.

The projects seek to cover interventions across different categories of digital media, including mobile phones and social media and different geographies including the whole of South Asia and the Asia Pacific region.

Media Coverage Acheivement

Projects

Internet RightsRed Rickshaw RevolutionMobile for Social & Behavioural ChangeICT4DScholl Research

DEF’s first and oldest project aimed at discovering and honouring interventions and innovations in the field of ICT for Development has today grown to become globally renowned with competitors from 36 nations of South Asia and the Asia Pacific region vying for the coveted award.

DEF in partnership with World Summit Awards, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India and other organisations interested in ICT for Development launched the Manthan Awards in October 2004 to identify, reward and give recognition to significant contributions in the field of ICT interventions for Development (ICTD). The specific objective was to bring to the attention of all stakeholders such as governments, business and industry and civil society organisations engaged in the development sector significant ICTD initiatives and valuable digital content that are successfully serving communities at large. Most of these success stories go unheralded in the mainstream media as these ICT interventions often operate in media-blind areas and sectors. Consequently, there is little knowledge-sharing among the progenitors of these initiatives which in turn hinders the emergence of an eco-system that feeds on this knowledge and enables scaling up of these initiatives and coordination among them for much larger impact. The Manthan Awards sought to bridge this gap and create a platform that would not only highlight such ICTD initiatives but also help to create a network and database of such players that would enable all stakeholders to contribute in a way that would enhance the overall impact of such ICT interventions. Initially, the awards were limited to entries from India. In 2008, the scope of the awards was expanded to South Asia and in 2012 to the entire Asia Pacific region. This single project has helped DEF to create a knowledge database of more than 5000 different and unique digital interventions across health, agriculture, business, heritage, tourism, travel, women, governance, environment, disability, assistive technology, and so on. Today, the Manthan Awards have become a platform for all innovators and practitioners of ICTD to network, forge partnerships and get mentoring and funding to scale up for greater impact.

Recent Updates

Manthan award 2015

Empowering Girl Students From
Poor Families Via Online
Scholarship Sonia Parveen had
Read More

Video

Publication

Contact Details

Communication Department

+91 74288 55244

E-Mail: info@defindia.org

An attempt to identify ordinary women in India who are change leaders at the grassroots level, felicitate them, celebrate them and digitally enable them to empower the community around them.

On 9th March 2013, three women and a crew of 25 from Vodafone Foundation and DEF embarked on a 9 day auto-rickshaw journey from Delhi to Mumbai, travelling over 1500kms spanning 5 states: from the hustle bustle of India’s capital to the deserts of Rajasthan via the green fields of Haryana, passing through vibrant Gujarat and spectacular Western Ghats to the bright lights of Mumbai. Along the route, they discovered and encountered ordinary women doing extraordinary things across India. Using innovative technology, this entire expedition was also experienced online. Each day, the crew celebrated the achievements of amazing women and shared their stories online live. The Red Rickshaw Revolution was all about celebrating the achievements of inspirational women across the country and raise crucial funds for three NGOs which are working to empower many more – ApneAap Women’s Collective (AAWC), Breakthrough and Corp India. The Vodafone Foundation pledged to match up to Rs 8.5 million of donations. A similar journey from Delhi to Kolkata was organised in 2014 and 10 women Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats were identified as grassroots change leaders. DEF and Vodafone Foundation rewarded these women heroes by setting up CIRCs at each of the 10 Gram Panchayats headed by these 10 remarkable women.

Recent Updates

Manthan award 2015

Empowering Girl Students From
Poor Families Via Online
Scholarship Sonia Parveen had
Read More

Video

Publication

Contact Details

Communication Department

+91 74288 55244

E-Mail: info@defindia.org

Recognising and honouring mobile phone applications and innovations developed and used by non-profit organisations in India; also helping them with financial aid and mentorship for scale.

Vodafone Foundation has been working across many countries with a program called “Mobile for Good” to help mobile based applications benefit communities at large in the domain of education, women, agriculture, and livelihood. In 2011, Vodafone Foundation launched the program in India by partnering with DEF through the mBillionth Award, which has been identifying mobile and telecom based applications in India and South Asia. Since 2011, Mobile for Good program in India has identified and supported 18 projects by diverse not-for-profit organisations spread across the length and breadth of the country. In 2014, Mobile for Good Awards became separate from the mBillionth award and is now being treated as an independent award.

Recent Updates

Manthan award 2015

Empowering Girl Students From
Poor Families Via Online
Scholarship Sonia Parveen had
Read More

Video

Publication

Contact Details

Communication Department

+91 74288 55244

E-Mail: info@defindia.org

Use of digital tools brings efficiency and large-scale impact among non-profit communities. E-NGO Challenge recognise such NGOs and helps NGOs to become digitally inclusive.

The eNGO Challenge, through awards and summits, tries to create an ecosystem for NGOs, which use Information Communication Technology (ICT) and digital media for development of societies and communities at large. The challenge seeks to recognize, salute and honour best NGO practices using ICT anywhere in Asia. The eNGO challenge is a joint initiative of Public Interest Registry (PIR) and Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).

Recent Updates

Manthan award 2015

Empowering Girl Students From
Poor Families Via Online
Scholarship Sonia Parveen had
Read More

Video

Publication

Contact Details

Communication Department

+91 74288 55244

E-Mail: info@defindia.org

Rewarding social media interventions for development across South Asia to create a platform for networking, learning and mutual cooperation.

The emergence of new media and social media platforms has pushed traditional media to the fringes. Digital outreach medium and Social Media platforms like Facebook, twitter, YouTube, blogs, Google hangout, Flickr, Foursquare etc. are playing a critical role by involving millions of people in real time. Social media is the illustrious and most potent democratic tool of empowerment, promotion, participation, commerce, cause, campaign, activism, among others. In an effort to identify how social media platforms have been utilised for their campaign-and-cause based programmes, Digital Empowerment Foundation initiated Social Media for Empowerment Award in 2013 to honour and recognise those social media initiatives which are using social media technology as a catalyst for communication, spreading awareness and fulfilling their mission and needs of social development. Social Media for Empowerment Award & Summit is supported by the American Center.