EQUALS’ goal is to achieve gender balance in the technology sector by supporting great projects and partners that work to overcome these challenges every day. Recently, EQUALS selected 20 women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to attend ITU Telecom World 2019 in Budapest, Hungary from 9-12 September. We received over 100 applications from all over the world. It was a challenge narrow down the excellent applications to just 20.
Still, there are few open existing opportunities for funding and scholarships in the tech sector. Therefore, we find it important to spread the word about existing opportunities while we support the creation of new ones.
This blog presents seven open scholarship opportunities that women can apply for to develop their tech and leadership skills.
1. Zonta International Foundation Fellowship 2020 Women in Technology Scholarship As seen on Zonta International Foundation: “The world economy, industry and sciences are becoming increasingly digitized, and these developments are disrupting society and familiar social processes. Women, however, are still largely underrepresented in technology fields. To create a world in which men and women have equal opportunities, women need to have an active role in technology and technological developments. Zonta International is pleased to offer its new Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in technology.
Eligibility criteria:
Women pursuing a technology degree or closely related program, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field, are eligible to apply.
-Women not enrolled in a university are also eligible as long as they submit:
-Evidence of completed trainings and outstanding performance.
-Description of current job with information about path that led to that job.
-Employer confirmation and recommendation or client testimonial supported by evidence.
-Reason for applying and description of desired career.
-Evidence of educational project plan (e.g. proof of course opportunities).
Golden Z club members may apply.
“The Women in Technology Scholarships are awarded to women of any age, pursuing a technology degree or closely related program or who are pursuing continued advancement in technology. Zonta International offers up to 32 scholarships of US$2,000 each at the district/region level and six international scholarships in the amount of US$8,000 each”.
Deadline: 1 October 2019
As seen on Digital Frontiers Institute:
"To close the gender gap, specifically in the digital identity sector, DFI and Omidyar Network are awarding 30 women with full scholarships for DFI’s 4-week Digital Identity online course.
Digital identity is where we are going to find prosperity; where we will find job creation and true financial inclusion. This is why the sector needs a diverse set of perspectives and a strong presence of female voices to create and promote Good ID.
The 30 beneficiaries of the scholarship will have the opportunity to become experts in the digital ID field, with the hope that this will lead to furthering the financial inclusion agenda and continue promoting good ID policies and processes.
Through the four-week online certification course, which begins 23 September 2019, students will:
-Understand the core language and concepts of the digital identity field
-Understand and learn to apply the principles of Good ID
-Analyse public, public-private, and private models of digital identity
-Evaluate types of digital identity systems for financial service providers
-Develop digital identification strategies and explore linkages to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
"The Digital Identity Scholarship is open to all women 18 years and older. Preference will be given to women who are currently working in the digital finance industry and who have a proven track record in implementing solutions to promote financial inclusion and gender equality through digital finance. Digital Frontiers Institute and Omidyar Network will review all applicants and communicate their decision by the 9th September 2019".
Deadline: 9 September 2019
As seen on Zonta International Foundation:
"Globally, women make up around 25 percent of the workforce in the aerospace industry. In an effort to carry out its mission that women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men, Zonta International offers the Amelia Earhart Fellowship.
"The Amelia Earhart Fellowship was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The US$10,000 Fellowship is awarded annually to up to 30 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-applied sciences or aerospace-applied engineering. It may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
"Since the program’s inception in 1938, Zonta has awarded 1,603 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totalling more than US$10.3 million, to 1,174 women representing 73 countries.
"Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-applied sciences or aerospace-applied engineering are eligible. Students must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program and completed at least one year of that program or have received a master’s degree in an aerospace-applied field at the time the application is submitted. Applicants must not graduate from their Ph.D. or doctoral program before April 2020. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation are also not eligible to apply for the Fellowship. Note that previous Amelia Earhart Fellows are not eligible to apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year".
Deadline: 15 November 2019
As seen on Invest2Impact:
"You have a vision of success — and the desire to make a difference in your community, your country, and in Africa. Invest2Impact is an exciting women-focused business competition that could change the future of your business. Enter today and you could be selected for one of four Invest2Impact funding access and business support programmes. "Invest2Impact is a programme of the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) of Canada, France, the United Kingdom and United States, in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, as part of the global 2X Challenge. Invest2Impact starts with an on-line competition for women-led businesses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Through the competition, 100 entrepreneurs will be selected to participate in one or more of the Invest2Impact programmes”.
Deadline: 20 September 2019
Please note that this opportunity is not exclusive to women.
As seen on Alexander von Humboldt Web Institut Für Internet:
"The Internet and Society Fellowship is internationally focused and offers a unique opportunity for innovative thinkers who wish to engage in the exchange of research experiences and to set up new initiatives.
"They accept applications from early and advanced researchers with diverse backgrounds and professional experiences, who want to contribute to the range of the institute’s transdisciplinary internet research.
"Based in the heart of Berlin, the HIIG provides a dynamic intellectual environment for fellows to pursue their own research interests and actively shape their stay. We invite fellows to collaborate with an international team of researchers and to participate in the activities at our institute. We offer a number of opportunities to share and discuss ideas. This includes:
-Writing and publishing papers in one of our open access publications
-Commenting on current developments in your field in form of HIIG blog posts
-Holding presentations in one of our lunch talks
-Organizing expert workshops with your peers
-Engaging in joint activities and projects with other fellows”.
Deadline: 2 September 2019
Please note that this opportunity is not exclusively tech-focused.
As seen on the International Women’s Media Foundation:
“Promoting the work and advancing the role of women in the news media across the globe is critical to transparency and a diversity of voices. The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists, the first funding initiative of its kind, enables the IWMF to dramatically expand its support of women journalists. Established with a $4 million gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Fund will support projects including educational opportunities, investigative reporting and media development initiatives.
The fund was designed to help women journalists by providing grantees support to:
-Expose under-reported but critical global issues
-Undertake ambitious projects that challenge traditional media narratives
-Develop field-based expertise and strengthen careers
-Pursue training and leadership opportunities
-Launch entrepreneurial news projects or acquire the skill to do so.
Eligibility:
-Woman-identifying journalists from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply.
-Professional journalism must be the applicant’s primary profession.
-Applicants must have three or more years of professional journalism experience.
-Teams of journalists may apply, however the submission must be from a woman journalist and her team must include at least 50% women”.
Deadline: 3 September 2019
As seen on the African Women Leadership Fund:
"The African Women Leadership Fund (AWLF) is established by the Economic Commission for Africa under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union, with support from: UN-Women; the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission and the African Women Leadership Network. AWLF is an innovative impact investment fund which aims to accelerate the growth of women-owned and operated funds and companies across Africa.
"AWLF has three programmes: the Emerging Manager Seed Capital programme, Fund of Funds programmes and Co-Investment programmes The African Women Leadership Fund will work with and support women-owned and run fund management companies, as well as women-focused impact funds. To do this, the Fund is investing capital and technical assistance financing utilising a technology platform that manages the identification, capacity building, mentorship, support, and investment into women investors & entrepreneurs at scale.
This online platform aims to facilitate the identification of talented and aspiring women fund managers. Register in the program to learn more
Deadline: 28 July 2019
If you are looking for opportunities, but did not quite see what you are looking for here, keep an eye out for more opportunities on Diversify Tech.
About the author
Marcelo Blanco dos Anjos is a Junior Policy and Research Analyst working for the EQUALS Global Partnership secretariat. He is also an international relations Master’s student at the Jean Moulin University Lyon 3. Previously, Marcelo worked as a research and advocacy assistant on digital rights affairs for Article 19 in Brazil.