The Microsoft Digital Skills Center for Nonprofits seeks to empower organizations do more good with the help of technology tools.
TechSoup is introducing Microsoft Digital Skills Center for Nonprofits in a new collaboration with Microsoft. The digital skills center will have a focus on nonprofits and will exist within the TechSoup course platform. Offering trainings on using Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Power BI and PowerApps.
TechSoup shares that “Strengthening digital literacy, enabling cloud adoption and building technology-forward strategies are critical to nonprofits working on social, environmental and educational issues“.
In February 2109 Microsoft Philanthropies announced a $1 million impact investment to support TechSoup. An initiative Microsoft says is to nearly double the number of nonprofit organizations it serves worldwide. Microsoft believes it will help nonprofits utilize technology to amplify their mission and impact.
“TechSoup has been a critical partner in building a remarkable and robust societal ecosystem that brings the promise of technology to nonprofits serving on the frontlines. Those trying to solve and address the world’s biggest challenges. Microsoft’s investment in and collaborative partnership with TechSoup is building bridges to digital inclusion and empowerment to help the nonprofit sector realize all the benefits of cloud technologies.
Justin Spelhaug, General Manager, Microsoft Philanthropies Tech for Social Impact
Rebecca Masisak, CEO TechSoup, says this partnership empowers nonprofits to create, connect, activate and transform their organizations and communities.
Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider Program at Microsoft was a panel speaker at the Ghana Digital Roadmap Conference. She joined other panelist in discussing Automation, E-Government services and Data at the event held in Accra, Ghana.
the only way digital transformation can happen is for universities, private sector and the government to work together
Sharing her thoughts on Digital Transformation she said all the stakeholders will have to work together. “The only way digital transformation can happen is for universities, private sector and the government to work together.”
Ghana has one of the highest literacy rates in the world and an average age of 18, she shared. “You have tremendous benefits over the west. You are mobile first and most of your youth have never lived in a world without technology.”
Think like a Tech Company
I recommend you(the government) think like a tech company and behave like one. That means put young people to work she said. The more you think like a tech company the faster you are going to innovate. Do small experiments.
Why are we not putting the youth to work she asked?
Ghana … most advanced airport, … yet I had to stand in line to fill a form, … that took the longest time.
Giving an example Dona said; Ghana has one of the most advanced airport i have ever seen. I’ve been to 80 countries.
From the moment we landed, It took 15 minutes through customs and security, it was insane. Yet i had to stand in line to fill a form, that took the longest time. There’s no need for a form. You already know all about me. I had to get a visa, it was a complex process.
Government, Co-Create with the youth
She encouraged the government to co-create with the youth. Your youth is the greatest asset you have she said. Don’t teach computer science the way you teach english or maths. Don’t teach it from books and then take test. That doesn’t mean anything. Instead have their graduation project be solve a local problem. Have them be project based, then you’ll know your youth are learning, growing and understand the value of the technology.
No Tech Talent in Africa?
Sharing her view on the (Jumia) no tech talent conversation in Africa, Dona said, i couldn’t disagree more. It is an incorrect statement. This is why i say that. The hires from the Africa continent are our(Microsoft) strongest engineers. That’s speaking as one who hires from across the globe.
The talent from Africa is the most innovate and by far looking to solve real problems because they have to. They are trying to solve real problems like how do you have clean water, reduce maternal mortality. It is not just coding skills, it is the desire to do the right thing. So i think it is two parts.
The only problem i’ve seen on the continet and true in Asia and South America is gate keepers shared Dona Sakar. People in position of authority who belive peolpe need to earn their way to a place where they are allowed to solve problems. In Silicon Valley there are no gate keepers, that is the culture.
Celebrate home grown CEO’s
Give young people hard problems to solve she told the government leaders present. One thing we must do is story tell and Hero make these things. Dona couldn’t stress this more, “Celebrate home grown CEO’s“.
Ghana Digital Roadmap Conference is a conversation platform to review Ghana’s aging ICT policy through digitization, for an accelerated development. The theme of the event is Moving Ghana Beyond Aid; Expanding The Local Digital Economy.
The Ghana government says this is in line with its digital opportunities program. To generate ideas developing a digital strategy and an implementation plan to establish Ghana as the leader in ICT innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2023.
I had the pleasure present some thoughts on #DigitalInclusion to the Ministers & leaders in Accra at @mocghana. I did manage to convince @MBawumia, the VP of Ghana to take a selfie and HOPEFULLY convinced him to invite students into his committees and co-create programs with them pic.twitter.com/hBPuY4qlnA
Microsoft 4Afrika GM joins others in the Digital Transformation conversations at Transformation Africa 2018
Microsoft 4Afrika General Manager Amrote Abdella joined other panelist at this years Transform Africa Summit 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. Joining the conversation on, Is digital connectivity an enabler and a foundation? during the Transform Africa’s Economic Forum. The broader discussion was Digital revolution; how can we ensure it is both an enabler and foundation for the transformation that is inclusive for everyone in Africa.
She said for us to have economic integration, we first need to start with technology consecration. For us to actually be able to do that we have to start with policy integration.
For all of the work we’ve done at Microsoft over the last five years in relation to last mile access, we have brought on board 500,00 SMEs online. With our TV whitespaces program we have launched 16 of them in 5 countries.
“We need to create an ecosystem where affordable access to technology becomes a reality and is all inclusive” – Amrote Abdella
Microsoft believes digital transformation is necessary to remain relevant and competitive in the future. It unlocks huge potential in an individual, in organizations and at the country level. Maturing on the digital transformation journey includes implementing both technology advancements and cultural changes, resulting in new business model or industry disruption.
We need to create an ecosystem where affordable access to technology becomes a reality and is all inclusive. Partnerships alone isn’t enough . It’s instrumental to get the right policies in place to make the single digital market a reality.
How do we build capacities and right skills as well as enabling environment for the youth, startups and entrepreneurs to thrive and become globally competitive ? Technology plays a critical role. In Africa, we anticipate digital transformation to support economic growth and drive entrepreneurship.
Microsoft’s 4Afrika Regional Director, Amrote Abdella shared on how Microsoft is supporting digitally enabled services in the agricultural industry.
A speaker at this years AFA Annual Learning event in Nairobi, Kenya. Discussing Agile tech development and the role of the internet in agricultural development. The event, AgriFin Accelerate Annual Learning event encourages dialogues, sharing and learning around challenges and opportunities in increasing digitally enabled services for smallholder farmers.
Digital transformation can free farmers from their fields, and disrupt local economies and long-established working methods.
Amrote said, Digital Transformation can free farmers from their fields, disrupt local economies and long-established working methods. For farmers to embrace digital transformation, technology has to provide platforms for affordable access and for scalability.
Speaking on the role of the internet in driving agricultural development and smallholder farmer services. Amrote Abdella shared on the extent that technology is addressing the challenges facing smallholder farmers. Microsoft 4Afrika has supported various agricultural startups in its 5 years of existence. We develop skills for entrepreneurs, we empower start-Ups who build solutions by Africans for Africa and we provide affordable access to the internet, smart devices and cloud services.
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa manage 80% of all the farmland and contribute up to 90% of the region’s food supply. The majority of these smallholders are based in rural communities, where agriculture is the dominant source of livelihood. These farmers have assets but they cannot access the services and help they need to be profitable.
Microsoft 4Afrika has supported various agricultural start-ups
Using mobile and Microsoft cloud technology, Felix Musau developed AGIN to plug the infrastructural challenges that exist within the agricultural sector. AGIN with the support of Microsoft 4Afrika’s initiative has grown to serve over 140,000 farmers in Kenya and currently facilitates over $1.3 million per month in transactions including loans and insurance.
We also began working with N-Frnds. A start-up that aims to digitise entire ecosystems from healthcare to government and agriculture through cloud-based SaaS services. We worked with N-Frnds when they had a demo and a dream. We have since helped them grow to 15 million users across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Using Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365, N-Frnds enables organisations to improve engagement with their stakeholders and streamline processes across their supply chain.
The Agricultural sector stands to benefit from widespread affordable internet access, as technologies like the Internet of Things start to digitally transform Kenya’s biggest industry.
It takes Skills to be relevant and successful in these times of digital revolution.
In the next few weeks we head for Microsoft Tech Summit Africa event in Cape Town, South Africa. Where there will be a lot to learn and share. We earlier shared on what the event offers and brings.
Microsoft South Africa general manager Zoaib Hoosen shared his views on what Microsoft Tech Summit brings to South Africa.
He said “We are currently experiencing a seismic shift in the industry. Often referred to as the digital revolution or the 4th industrial revolution“.
“For us to be successful in south Africa, to capitalize on the shift, we need skills. Microsoft Tech Summit brings the best in the world to our shores so they can share their learnings and insight.”
Registration is currently opened if you are interested in attending. Visit the registration page and get yourself there for an amazing experience.
We will do well to bring yo updates from the event if you can’t make it. So bookmark this page. Microsoft Tech Summit takes place February 13-14 in Cape Town.
