World Wide Web Foundation, a nonprofit organization, announced March 17 that Vodafone Group will donate $1 million toward projects that will train entrepreneurs in Africa to leverage the Web as a platform for delivering locally relevant content, applications and services. Some of the funding will also go to research what needs to be done to make the Web more accessible and valuable to people in developing economies.
 
While only 25 % of the world population uses the Web today, more than 70 % of the world's population has access to mobile or fixed communication devices capable of displaying Web content. In Africa, where the Internet penetration rate is approximately 6.8 %, furthering Web access can create learning opportunities for local entrepreneurs and support the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals to end poverty by 2015.  Vodafone's $1 million grant over a three year period is intended to help the Web Foundation understand the barriers to mobile Web access in Africa and support efforts to train social and economic entrepreneurs to create relevant Web content that is also accessible even on basic mobile phones.

As part of its support, Vodafone asked the Web Foundation to join a research panel which looks into the Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile (SIM) in society.  The current SIM project is exploring the impact of mobile broadband in emerging economies.  The results are expected in autumn 2010.
 
Vodafone has long focused on providing products and services designed to emerging economies where mobiles are used.  For example, Vodafone recently announced the release of ultra low cost handsets which will retail at under $15.
 
Founded by the inventor of the Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Web Foundation announced its first projects last November at the 2009 Internet Governance Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The Foundation's work helps local communities and international organizations, such as the Center for Digital Inclusion and the Web Alliance for Re-greening in Africa develop mobile Web content to accelerate learning and economic progress in developing economies and urban areas.