Vodafone Foundation has launched the fifth edition of their flagship initiative ‘Mobile for Good Awards 2015’, in partnership with NASSCOM Foundation, through the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum. The Awards recognize and support emerging talent and innovative mobile solutions from NGOs and ‘For profit’ enterprises that facilitate community empowerment and inclusive growth.
This year, 11 winning innovations will be recognized across two categories – ‘Leading Change Maker – NPO’ and ‘Leading Change Maker – For Profit’. Innovative mobile driven solutions in four critical areas of Health, Education, Agriculture & Environment and Women Empowerment & Inclusive Development will be selected from both the categories. This year, there will also be a special award for a Government led solution for achievement in the NPO category.
Vodafone Foundation will provide a grant of INR 1.2 million to five winning NGOs/NPOs in addition to structured mentoring, monitoring and impact evaluation support from partner institutions, incubators etc. for them to achieve a larger impact. All winning projects will also be featured in the soon-to-launch, first of its kind – ‘Social Apps Marketplace’ by Vodafone.
Applicants from NGOs / NFPs and for profit organizations can submit their entries on the portal www.vodafone.in/mobileforgood until 31 July 2015.
Speaking about the Mobile for Good Awards, P Balaji, Director- Regulatory & External Affairs, Vodafone India, said, “This year, ‘the Mobile for Good Awards’ a marquee proposition from Vodafone Foundation, enters fifth year of its successful social initiative to recognize innovative mobile solutions in the country. Our mission, in line with the government’s vision of Digital India, is to build a platform for these innovators, recognize them and support them further for scalability and sustainability through funding and mentorship. This year with a new partnership with NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum, we intend to reach out to the mobile innovations across India and provide them with the necessary help for a greater impact.”
This year, NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum (NSIF) will power the Mobile for Good Awards. NSIF is NASSCOM Foundation’s program that has been honouring, mentoring and providing catalytic grants to social innovations across technology platforms, since the last 8 years.
Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “We are glad to collaborate with Vodafone Foundation to enable the most powerful tool in people’s hands today, help improve their lives” He further added, “We are hopeful that Mobile for Good will act as a catalyst to bring forward break through innovations in mobile technology from across the country and these innovations will help integrate social objectives with technology to fuel social development in India.”
For more information about the Awards, to apply and read about the past winners and their successful applications, please visit www.vodafone.in/mobileforgood