“We believe that the promotion of a knowledge-based economy creates a promise
of scientific advancement, of improvements in productivity,
and the opportunity for achieving sustainable growth
in our country and on the continent broadly.”
- Naledi Pandor, Minister of Education, Republic of South Africa
Established in Africa since 1992, Microsoft holds a deep commitment and passion toward accelerating Africa’s economic and social development. Our aim is to help Africans realize their own and their continent’s full potential, while ensuring that technology supports and accelerates Africa’s progress toward the Millennium Development Goals. In recent years, we have increased our engagement and investments in education, in the promotion of local innovation, in employability skills in local communities, and e-government solutions. Nevertheless, we decided we need to do more.
Together with African business partners, national and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and inter-governmental organizations, we are working to build a modern and competitive knowledge economy for African societies. While the challenges are great, there is an intense desire for Africa to be part of the rising global economy, and accelerate its own sustainable development. The following represents Microsoft’s priority areas for continued investments in Africa:
Enhancing the competitiveness of countries by expanding access to education
Contributing to a thriving African technology economy by stimulating economic growth, innovation, and employment in Africa’s IT industry and beyond, including the adaptation of our products to local challenges and needs
Supporting jobs and opportunities through ICT-related capacity building with the non-government organization and inter-governmental organization communities in Africa, improving services for African citizens through e-government solutions that enhance transparency and efficiency; and by empowering local communities through ICT skills training
Video: Burkina Faso: The ICT Best Practices Forum for West and Central Africa Emphasizes Technology in Promoting Social Development
Video: Africa: Efforts to Help the Continent Leapfrog into the Twenty-First Century through Education and eGovernment
Video: Botswana: A Public-Private Partnership Provides PCs to Civil Servants and IT Graduates
Video: Africa: The UN Refugee Agency Enlists Private Companies to Assist in Areas that Match their Core Competencies
Video: Africa: Meeting the Eighth UN Millennium Development Goal—Developing a Global Partnership for Development
Video: Africa: Closing the Technology Gap to Boost Economic Growth and Deal with Unemployment
Video: Rwanda: Poised to Take the Lead on ICT Connectivity, Rwanda Hosts the Connect Africa 2007 Summit
Video: Uganda: Microsoft and UNIDO Partner to Help Small and Medium Enterprises through Technology Centers and Refurbished PCs
Video: Ghana: Creating Local Software Solutions
Video: Microsoft Software Eases Burdens on South African Clinic 
Case Study: Unlocking Human Potential in Nairobi's Eastlands Slums
Partner Profile: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
White Paper: Unlimited Potential Engagement in Africa
