Context
-India aims to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
-Women could contribute $14 trillion if India onboards 400 million women into the paid workforce through fractional employment.
-The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) 2024 stands at 37%. Targeted Women FLFPR for 2047 is 70% or 400 million women.
-200 million women in India do not step out of their homes even once.
-Nearly 30% women who reside in urban and peri-urban areas struggle with finding jobs that match their education levels, higher perceived value of domestic work compared to entry-level market jobs, and persistent wage disparities.
In 2022-23, Kerala’s female LFPR was 31.3%.
Source: Niti Aayog Viksit Bharat paper (July 24) DGE FLUI report (April 23) Women in Workforce report by Magic Bus India Foundation. Kerala State Planning Board Economic Review, 2023
About
Register for next cohort*Digital Microwork (DM): Microwork refers to tasks that are broken down into small, manageable units and made available to any user on a platform, rather than being assigned to a specific individual. Common examples of microwork include data entry, image tagging, content moderation, transcription of short texts, categorising products, testing websites or apps, proofreading short documents, and annotating data for machine learning models. In this system, an employer posts a task on a platform for a worker to complete. Each task typically takes only a few seconds to minutes, and the worker is usually compensated per task.
CDF STEM FEMME Fellowship 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit for fellows?
Candidate between the age of 22 and 35 years may apply for this fellowship.
Where will the fellowship primarily take place?
This edition of the fellowship will have both in-person and virtual components in Kerala, India.
Is there a fee to join the fellowship?
No, there is no fee to join the fellowship.
Is there a stipend for the fellowship?
Yes, CDF STEM Femme fellows will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000/- for 6 months.
Will the fellowship involve travel? If so, will TA be provided?
The fellowship involves limited travel. There will be a small additional purse outside the stipend for the fellows to plan any incidental expenses with regard to the programme. This will be at the discretion of CDF and WIIT.
Will fellows have direct interaction with participants throughout the programme?
Yes, the fellows will be responsible for identifying, onboarding & training the participants and will work closely with them, supporting them, providing guidance and support, to achieve the stated goals.
Can recent graduates apply, or must applicants be currently enrolled in a programme?
Yes, Graduate and Post Graduate students with Humanities degrees are also encouraged to apply.
What happens if a fellow drops out in the middle of the fellowship?
Candidates who can commit to a 6-month engagement of 4-5 hours-a-week only need apply. Discontinuation at any stage will result in non-cognisance of the candidate’s selection, and revocation of Fellowship status.
Programme Partners
Organisational Partner
Knowledge Partner
Supported By