Our mission at the ADC is to establish the Microsoft brand as a reliable digital transformation partner by being a preferred engineering hub for teams setting up in Africa and a preferred site for developing and advancing engineering careers.

Our aim is to train, equip and hire engineering talent across Africa to contribute to the development of Microsoft products that are in use by over 1 billion devices and empowering millions of users and organizations across the world to do more. 

The ADC is the first of its kind on the African continent. It is a premier center of research and development for Microsoft, leveraging the diversity of the landscape to build world class talent and create innovative solutions for global impact. Since our established three years ago, we continue with the below initiatives:

1. 21st Century Skills Employment & Development

At the onset of its operations in May 2019 we had targeted to hire 300 Full Time Employees by the end of 2021. As of today, Microsoft has exceeded that commitment and employed over 500 Full Time Employees, in the fields of software development, program management, technical design, content writing, operations, research & applied science. This has afforded Africa’s talent the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology suitable for the continent and the rest of the world.

2. Kenya Big 4 Agenda and the UN SDGs

Through commitments by the Microsoft Research Africa headquartered at the ADC, the facility has contributed to improving the lives and livelihoods of people in Africa and beyond by bringing research, technology and skills to projects such as the Small and Medium Businesses Report that helped transform businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, working with the Green Belt Movement to combat Climate Change. 

3. Green energy and sustainability

As part of Microsoft’s global ambition to be net carbon negative by 2030, the facility has been constructed in a similar fashion to Microsoft global offices to optimize space utilization, air conditioning and lighting adjustments. We also have several features, not yet available in other Microsoft offices but available at the ADC facility such as self-heat regulating windows, a mini solar plant that will power the facility and water treatment facility to recycle the water and purify it. Our office has achieved LEED Platinum certification – the highest international environmental certification. This is likely the first in Africa, certainly the first in East Africa, one of very few in Microsoft, assuring Microsoft employees, partners and stakeholders of our commitment to sustainability. 

4. Partnering with the Ecosystem

Microsoft ADC has partnered with local universities, high schools and others within the technology ecosystem in concerted efforts to provide training, skills, and create job opportunities in support of the digital economy

5. The Microsoft Garage at the ADC facility

A freeform work space where Microsoft employees, interns, schools and community groups can find the tools and training they need to launch products and learn skills. The Garage has also worked with some clients by bringing together innovators to solve everyday challenges by building technology solutions for the global market.

6. The Microsoft Research Africa 

One of MSR Africa's primary goals is to influence the design of Microsoft products so that they better serve the African user and African business. MSR Africa has been running various programs to do this. Another of MSR Africa’s mandate is to identify and empower the next generation of researchers to contribute to cutting-edge research through their Phd Fellowship Program.