Employability skilling, including digital skilling, is a key area of intervention for the Foundation. The job market in India demands specialized skill sets, which is reflected in the increased demand for students to take up vocational education and skills training courses. Our initiatives in this area have a special focus on empowering and enabling persons with disabilities (PwD), and underserved women through skilling for employment and vocational education.
Cognizant Foundation’s Tech4All: Driving Inclusive Growth Through Technology
Cognizant Foundation is committed to fostering inclusive growth by leveraging technology to empower underserved communities, particularly women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). As India’s digital economy rapidly expands, sectors like Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology enabled Services (ITeS) offer immense employment potential. However, systemic barriers continue to prevent equitable access to these opportunities.
Despite high growth in the services sector, only 22.5% of employed women in India were working in this domain as of 2023, according to the World Bank. Women and PwDs from marginalized backgrounds often face multiple challenges, including limited access to quality training, financial constraints, lack of digital infrastructure, and deep-rooted social norms. These factors collectively hinder their participation in formal employment, especially in technology-driven roles.
To address these disparities, Cognizant Foundation launched the Tech4All program, which focuses on employment-oriented skill development. The initiative adopts a multifaceted approach that combines digital skilling, inclusive infrastructure, and supportive ecosystems to create pathways for economic empowerment.
Through strategic partnerships with reputable organizations, Tech4All identifies and trains underserved youth—particularly women and PwDs—for careers in high-demand sectors such as IT, ITeS, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), finance, healthcare, hospitality, and retail. The training programs are tailored to market needs and include both technical and soft skills, ensuring that participants are job-ready and confident.
In addition to technical training, the program emphasizes mentorship, career guidance, and job placement support. By equipping participants with specialized skills and connecting them to employment opportunities, Tech4All enables them to achieve greater independence, financial stability, and social inclusion.
The program also promotes the use of accessible technologies and inclusive learning environments to ensure that PwDs can fully participate in training and employment. This includes the integration of assistive tools and adaptive learning platforms that cater to diverse needs.
Cognizant Foundation’s inclusive growth strategy reflects its belief that technology can be a powerful equalizer. By removing barriers and creating opportunities for marginalized groups, the Foundation is not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to a more equitable and resilient digital economy.
Our representative partner list includes - ASSOCIATION FOR NON-TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN (ANEW), Centum Foundation, Cheshire Disability Trust, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, EnAble India, New Resolution India, Sarthak Educational Trust
