Mobile Operators – Join GSMA mWomen in Cape Town!

UPDATED: We have extended the deadline to midnight (UK time) on Friday, 25th July.
Apply now and get a chance to join us in Cape Town in November!

The mWomen programme has awarded 11 Innovation Grants to operators and NGOs.  These grants provide seed funding for the design and launch of economically sustainable products and services which increase women’s access to and use of mobile phones and VAS.  They span Asia and Africa and offerings include mHealth, mobile financial services, mEducation and sub-brands for the women’s segment.  Please have a look at our grants summary for a snapshot of each project.

Wouldn’t it be great to get all 11 grantees together?  Ask them how they designed and developed their respective services, what worked, what didn’t, what was user feedback and uptake?

Well, this is what we will be doing in Cape Town at the GSMA mWomen Working Group on the 3^rd and 4^th November.  All our grantees will gather to share lessons learned and insights gained from the design and launch of their services.  It will be a fantastic opportunity to get new ideas and practical advice on how to replicate similar approaches in your market, as well as network with industry peers.

We are offering 5 MNO representatives the chance to qualify for free flights and accommodation to attend this Working Group meeting.  We’ll also include a free pass to Africa 360 which will be held shortly after our event.

In order to qualify, applicants must fill in our online survey by the 18^th July 2014.  Candidates will be selected based on their objectives for attending, as well as on what they are able to share with fellow delegates.  It doesn’t matter if your organisation hasn’t yet launched a service for women; what we are looking for is a willingness to target this market in a commercially viable manner and to contribute to the discussion.  Please note that MNO representatives from the marketing, innovation, VAS and strategy teams will be given preference.

How to apply

• You need to be working for a mobile operator in the developing world (Latin America, Asia, Middle East, and Africa).
• Fill in the survey so that we can understand your organisation and its activities, as well as your motivation for joining our workshop. Even if you are unable to attend this workshop in Cape Town, please fill in the survey as it will help us to better understand your organisation and its needs – maybe we can work together in the future.

What happens if you are selected?

• We will notify the 5 selected candidates by mid-August with more detail on how to book your free flights and accommodation (terms and conditions will apply).
• Please note that the candidates will be selected by an independent organisation.

And if you aren’t selected?

• There will be a few, limited spaces for unlucky applicants to attend. You would have to cover your expenses, but the Working Group meeting itself is free. The team will provide all applicants with further details in mid-August.

As of September 2014, GSMA mWomen and Connected Women are coming together to deliver a comprehensive programme, called Connected Women, which is focused on accelerating the female mobile economy globally

Photo by Dimitri B, courtesy of Flickr