EQUALS in Tech Awards at MWC-26 : Meet the Winners

The EQUALS Global Partnership is proud to announce the winners of the EQUALS in Tech Awards 2026, revealed during the EQUALS session at Mobile World Congress 2026.

Selected from 256 nominations across 67 countries, this year’s winners represent outstanding leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in closing the gender digital divide. Each initiative demonstrates excellence across the five award categories — Access, Skills, Leadership in Technology, Leadership in SMEs, and Research — showing how inclusive connectivity, digital capacity-building, entrepreneurial leadership, and evidence-based innovation can create transformative opportunities for girls and women worldwide.

Access Winner

Nanum Mujeres Conectadas

Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay

Nanum Mujeres Conectadas empowers Indigenous and rural women in the Gran Chaco by expanding affordable internet access, strengthening digital skills, and fostering climate resilience to drive sustainable community development. To date, the initiative has connected 129 communities across the region, significantly expanding digital access in remote areas.

Skills Winner

Generation Girl

Indonesia

Generation Girl equips Indonesian girls and young women with STEM skills through boot camps, workshops, hackathons, and leadership programmes, helping to close the gender gap and foster the next generation of women technology leaders. Since its founding, the initiative has reached more than 59,600 girls and young women across Indonesia.

Leadership in SMEs Winner

Women on Wednesday, led by Blue Sapphire Hub

Nigeria

Women on Wednesday strengthens women-led SMEs through digital skills development, mentorship, and investment linkages, fostering inclusive economic growth in underserved communities. The initiative has supported women entrepreneurs in securing USD 1.5 million in funding, accelerating business growth and job creation.

Leadership in Tech Winner

WE Women by FINOMENA

Palestine

WE Women empowers female entrepreneurs across the MENA region through incubation, mentorship, and investment support, enabling women-led startups to scale and become investor-ready. Notably, 90% of mentored university participants secured internships or employment in the tech sector, demonstrating measurable impact on women’s leadership pathways in technology.

Research Winner

Monitoring Landslides and Reducing Risks

Ecuador

Through innovative monitoring systems and inclusive risk management approaches, this research strengthens landslide resilience and supports marginalized communities in Ecuador. The project has monitored 15 high-risk zones, contributing to significantly improved early warning and community preparedness.

Celebrating Global Impact

The EQUALS in Tech Awards continue to spotlight initiatives that are not only innovative, but also measurable, scalable, and transformative. This year’s winners demonstrate that closing the gender digital divide is not an aspiration : it is already happening through bold leadership, inclusive design, and sustained community engagement.

From expanding connectivity in remote regions to equipping young women with STEM skills, strengthening women-led enterprises, advancing leadership in technology, and producing impactful research, the winners embody what inclusive digital transformation looks like in practice.

Stay tuned for the exclusive insights from the winners on how they are driving change in their communities and beyond!