The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP) today announced that it is appointing four new members to its growing team. These appointments come as we operationalize and scale up the Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), a five-year $60 million investment to accelerate progress on closing the gender digital divide.
Talant Sultanov of Kyrgyzstan joins GDIP as Policy Advocacy Advisor, in charge of the policy advocacy strategy of WiDEF. In this capacity, he will conduct policy and regulatory analysis across countries and regions where WiDEF will invest, to identify gaps and advocacy needs that will facilitate and support successful investments. A seasoned digital development expert, Talant is the Chair and Co-founder of the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter and a member of the UN Secretary General’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group for Internet Governance.
Jaqueline Pateguana of Mozambique joins GDIP as Regional Lead for Africa, supporting WiDEF. Working with the Policy Advocacy Advisor, she will lead the development of regional advocacy campaigns and activities to support and advance WiDEF priorities for creating an enabling environment for women in the digital economy and closing the digital gender gap. An experienced public policy specialist, Jaqueline brings expertise from her long career, including stints at the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), The World Bank, and as an advisor to Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communication.
Waqas Hassan of Pakistan joins GDIP as Regional Lead for Asia, supporting WiDEF. Working with the Policy Advocacy Advisor, he will lead the development and implementation of the WiDEF advocacy strategy to advance gender-inclusive ICT policy frameworks in Asia and the mainstreaming of digital gender equality nationally and throughout the region. A public policy and stakeholder engagement expert, Waqas led the international collaborations and partnerships of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and is an active contributor to the internet governance community on the national, regional, and international levels.
Jessica Brown of the United Kingdom joins GDIP as Senior Communications Manager, supporting WiDEF. In this capacity, she will lead the development and implementation of WiDEF’s global communications strategy, positioning the initiative and its mandate to global and regional audiences in Africa and Asia, and ensuring WiDEF’s message is clearly and consistently communicated while growing WiDEF’s brand equity. A seasoned marketing and communications professional, Jessica brings her experience from working with various governments, NGOs, DFIs, and MDBs.
“The first WiDEF funding round has proved that this movement to bolster women’s digital inclusion and economic empowerment has vast potential. Echoing the sentiments of the African proverb shared during the launch event, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,’ we are delighted to welcome new faces to this shared vision of closing the gender digital divide and are confident in our team’s ability to collaborate and address this urgent and pressing issue,” said Sonia Jorge and Onica N. Makwakwa, Executive Directors of the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership.
The addition of new members to the GDIP team strengthens our commitment to advancing digital inclusion for the global majority. Their diverse experiences, expertise, and dedication to inclusive digital transformation will be invaluable as we work towards our mission of ensuring everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030.
To learn more about the GDIP team and staff members, visit Our Team page.
WiDEF will open a second Call for Proposals on 17 July 2024. The private sector has a key role to play in closing the gender digital divide; this round will offer technical assistance support to organizations invested in advancing digital opportunities for women and girls.
About GDIP
The Global Digital Inclusion Partnership is a coalition of public, private, and civil society organizations working to bring internet connectivity to the global majority and ensure everyone is meaningfully connected by 2030. Founded by a global team of experts who successfully championed affordable and meaningful connectivity around the world, GDIP advances digital opportunities to empower and support people’s lives and agency, leading to inclusive digital societies.