Microsoft partners NGOs in Africa to enhance development

Accra, April 24, GNA - The Microsoft Unlimited Potential Group, a group within the Microsoft Network that partners with civil society and non governmental organizations to enhance Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in communities on Thursday introduced a programme dubbed: "ICT4D Academy." The programme which aimed at using ICT to enhance development would bring together non-governmental organizations from Anglo-phone West African countries to share ideas and experiences and provide a common platform for common learning among people in Africa.

Mr. Michael Rawding, Vice President of the Unlimited Potential Group, explained that the programme which would involve 15 weeks of training out of which nine weeks would be used for workshops and the remaining used to work together with the non governmental organizations using the Microsoft tools was to support development through ICT. The programme, he said would also help promote best practices in ICT and expressed the hope that it would have greater impact on people.

Ms Heba Ramzy, Director of the Unlimited Potential Group said the programme would focus on three major areas namely: capacity building, making ICT more affordable and sustainable and pilot solutions to NGO, ICT problems. She said for a start, the programme would begin in South Africa where 120 young people would be trained to become social entrepreneurs to help the NGOs. Ms. Ramzy expressed hope that in future they would launch the academy per region to ensure greater success.