Description

SCENARIO

Technology and the internet can be a great enabler for women and girls but a lack of opportunities, skills and a fear of discrimination prevent many from using and creating digital tools and online content.

Girls and women often have less access to technology and the internet compared to boys and men. In addition, stereotypes around technology and fear of being discriminated against stop girls from using digital tools. Last year alone, over 259 million more men than women were online.

The digital gender gap is multidimensional, which is why there are many effective ways to advance digital gender equality. Being a digital company, Enel is committed to help close the gender gap in the tech sector through dedicated projects, including aimed inwardly at improving company policies and outcomes for women. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) have outlined several key areas where this gender divide or gap is most often seen online and in digital spaces:

• Improving access to digital devices and skills;

• Development of digital facilitation tools and initiatives;

• Promotion of women’s access to digital/STEM professions;

• Upskilling and reskilling initiatives;

• Solutions to fight online gender-based violence and disinformation.

By contributing to Enel work in this area through joining this Challenge, you are directly helping to overcome the digital gender gap – both in Enel itself and worldwide. 

THE CHALLENGE

With considerable economic growth coming from the tech sector, it is vital to have women's participation in technology. To reach this goal, Enel will leverage innovative solutions to promote women’s digital empowerment in terms of inclusion and representation, access to digital resources and finance, assistance as a tech incubator, the promotion of women role models, and more.

Enel are searching for mature proposals, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of ≥ 7, that will help to move the needle and ensure that the digital gender gap is reduced. Performance indicators of your digital solution can be both qualitative and quantitative: for instance, self-assessment and survey responses are as valuable as engagement metrics and number of programs delivered. 

Your submission to this Challenge should fulfil at least 1 of the OECD areas around the digital gender gap: improving access, development of tools, promotion of access to digital professions, upskilling and reskilling, and/or fighting online gender-based violence and discrimination. 

As this is a multidimensional issue, Enel’s aims are not limited to one specific type of solution: your submission can be of a digital solution, method, or tool that will help to bridge the digital gender gap, or it could be acceptable to submit an investigation or methodology that can report on the use, barriers, and shortcomings of digital technologies.

Enel aims to provide positive outcomes in this digital gender gap project. Enel will promote and help to scale the solutions submitted to this Challenge, as well as finding new ways to use them within the company, a global enterprise with operations in 26 countries.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

Your proposed solution must have the following qualities:

• Being a digital solution or a method/project that can report on the use, access, and barriers of digital technologies;

• Able to collect data and insights: both to understand the current barriers towards representation for women and to report on progress made in this area;

• Promote awareness on the topic;

• Have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ≥ 7;

• Applicable to Enel context – submission of a digital solution or investigative method that can be used to reduce the digital gender divide in Enel itself.

   

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted proposal should contain two parts:

 1. Collaboration Proposal including:

a) A description of the proposed solution with an explanation of how the Solver proposes to address all of the Solution Requirements. The Seeker desires a solution with a minimum technology readiness level (TRL) of 7 and Solvers should provide enough information to indicate that their solution achieves this level. The Solver can withhold proprietary details, if necessary, but should provide convincing evidence for Enel to appreciate the merits of the approach. The description of the solution should include, but is not limited to:

• Adopted method and/or technique;

• Advantages and weaknesses of the proposed solution;

• Technical specifications in terms of specific working requirements, technical constraints, time needed for application and deployment;

• Cost indications for the supply and operation of the solution.

b) A brief discussion of capabilities, equipment, and relevant expertise for executing the proposed solution. The Solver should explain what they can provide and what might be required of the Seeker. For example: “I can construct a prototype, but I would need the Seeker to help with scale up and distribution”;

c) An overview of the proposed path forward (materials, deliverables, timelines, cost estimates);

d) Data, video, case studies, patent and journal references or any additional material that supports the proposed solution.

2. General Information about the Solver including:

a) The key contact person for this Challenge (including phone number and email address). 

b) Organization/Company/University name and address (including website, if available)

SDGs

This Challenge contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequality