After the success of last year, the Vodafone Foundation in association with Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) on March 12, 2012, announces its ongoing commitment to support socially empowering mobile initiatives throughout India. Four social enterprises which can demonstrate scalable, innovation mobile solutions currently being deployed and benefitting their users will secure Rs. 1 million each in funding to scale their projects.

In 2011, under the framework of mBillionth Award of DEF, the Vodafone Foundation introduced the concept of Mobile for Good (M4G) in India and committed an aggregate of Rs. 2 million in grants to 2 leading NGOs to help advance their highly impactful mobile initiatives. This year, the Vodafone Foundation will continue its successful partnership with DEF and increase the scope of the ‘Mobile for Good’ programme as part of the overall mBillionth Awards.

“With widespread mobile ownership in India, we believe identifying and supporting socially empowering ideas using the power of mobile can reap significant social benefits,” explains Laura Turkington, Director, Vodafone India Foundation.

The “Mobile for Good” initiative is hoping to generate strong interest amongst NGOs and at least 100 plus nominations are expected to participate in the programme this year across 8 categories. In addition to the financial support available, mentorship will also be provided to the shortlisted candidates. According to Osama Manzar, Founder & Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation, “India is an oral country with mobile proving to be the most effective communication tool enabling access to information to those living in the most rural of environments. We want to grow and diversify the mobile services which can make a positive impact on people’s live and believe this is a way in which we can do so.”

Vodafone Foundation and DEF plan to and felicitate the winners of the M4G programme on July 21 at a glittering function as part of the overall mBillionth Award 2012.