The ExxonMobil Foundation has a long history of investing in women worldwide, committing nearly $50 million to date toward programs that have benefitted thousands. The foundation recently announced a $1.5 million grant awarded to The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women for research into how mobile phone technology can aid women’s business efforts in developing countries.

Internet access is very scarce in many parts of the world, so many people rely on mobile phones instead. They have already proven to help economic development in developing countries, but currently there are 300 million more male subscribers worldwide, and a woman is 21 percent less likely to own a phone than a man in low- and middle-income countries.

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