Microsoft South Africa, together with leading gender-based violence NPO partners, 1000 Women Trust and TEARS Foundation, launch Safe@Home Hackathon to address gender-based violence in South Africa.
The virtual hackathon event will run from 22 September to 19 October. It invites the South African developer community to create and develop technology-based solutions that will help victims of gender-based violence, vulnerable women and children.
Access to the right technology can enable a better and safer way for women and children to reach out for help.
“Gender-based violence is one of the most pressing and critical challenges South Africa faces: President Cyril Ramaphosa identified it as the second pandemic our country is currently battling and a war that is being waged against our women and children, with over 40% of South African women experiencing sexual and/or physical interpersonal violence in their lifetime,” says Lillian Barnard, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa.
A study by the World Health Organisation, for example, found that 42 percent of females between 13 and 23 in the country reported experiencing physical dating violence. The incidence of unreported violence is much higher – and getting worse.
“Violence against women and children is escalating under the current circumstances, with many South Africans confined to their homes. This indicates a clear need to take action to address gender-based violence in South Africa,” says Tina Thiart, founder of 1000 Women.
Microsoft South Africa is pledging its support to helping address gender-based violence through the Safe@Home Hackathon. Hackathons are aimed at finding solutions to specific challenges through collaborative brainstorming and programming in a short space of time.
The Safe@Home Hackathon will look to facilitate collaboration to create and develop technology-based solutions that will work in the context of South Africa’s unique circumstances and challenges.
“Our goal is to find real, sustainable solutions to help South Africa’s most vulnerable and at-risk. Ensuring that we are able to build these kinds of fit-for-purpose technology-based solutions will require partnerships with developers, NGOs in the gender-based violence space like TEARS Foundation and 1000 Women, government, corporate South Africa and other technology players,” says Barnard.
“Together, we will provide the support needed as we call on developers across the country to come together, understand the issues surrounding gender-based violence, and create and develop technology-based solutions that can help save lives.”
Safe@Home in South Africa is replicating the successful initiative piloted by Microsoft Israel in partnership with the “Michal Sela Forum” – headed by the sister of a victim of gender-based violence – and the country’s developer community to create and develop technology-based solutions to help victims of gender-based violence. The hackathon resulted in the development of a number of applications that will be deployed in Israel to help other women and children who need it.
Likewise, South Africa’s hackathon aims help the country’s most vulnerable. The intention is that winning idea will be developed into a full application that will be deployed to support women across South Africa who need help, and make a difference in curbing gender-based violence in South Africa. The top three teams also stand to win cash prizes. The winners will be announced on 26 October.
“I look forward to exploring the possibilities that technology can provide to help keep women and children ‘safe@home’, and working together to tackle the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa. The time for collective action is now,” says Mara Glennie, founder and director at TEARS Foundation.
South African developers wanting to be part of positive change to help vulnerable women and children can enter to join the hackathon here: https://safeathome.bemyapp.com/
Microsoft says the PIC will be at the forefront of dialogue around how to embrace Digital Transformation. Also the role Artificial Intelligence can play to help the region thrive within the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The center will bring together stakeholders to develop innovative policy dialogue across various industries.
Lillian Barnard, General Manager Microsoft South Africa gave the welcome address at Future Africa Campus event. She said; “We are proud to partner with the University of Pretoria and the Department of Science and Technology to drive conversation around the different policies to help protect all users“.
Dr. Phil Mjwara, South Africa’s Director-General of Science and Technology gave the keynote address during the launch event. He said “One of the key roles of government is to create a climate in which individuals, businesses and other social institutions could thrive. This includes creating an enabling legislative, policy or regulatory framework for the development of new innovative technologies and services“.
Mike Yeh General Counsel, Microsoft, during the opening ceremony of the Policy Innovation Center said Microsoft always approached technology holistically.
He said “At Microsoft we have been talking for some years about the democratization of technology. How do we ensure that as the world advances and advanced technology becomes incorporated in everyday lives, that everyone is able to benefit? There is clearly a need and opportunity to figure out how to modernise those regulations in a way that is responsible. Bouncing out the potential benefits of technology, ensuring that the data remains private and that customers can control that data
We see many opportunities and challenges on how to get the regulatory environment correct. We look forward to working with the University of Pretoria and government to really bring people together. To drive the conversation and ultimately find the solutions to ensure that technology is used fairly and for good”.
Equity Equivalent Investment Programme to drive digital transformation and create economic empowerment in South Africa.
Seven years on after launching the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), the company evolves the programme. Microsoft announced the EEIP in 2011 where they committed 7 years to support black owned Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) helping them develop and expand.
The evolved Microsoft EEIP will now focus on investments in technology solutions in agriculture and digital transformation in the manufacturing sectors. It will also include funding of skills development of South Africa’s young software developers. Through multiple AppFactories hosted by strategic partners across the country.
According to Microsoft South Africa managing director, Lillian Barnard “these are two areas where government’s priority and Microsoft’s focus overlap. We are evolving the program to meet South Africa’s shifting social economic needs. As well as take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by public cloud and Microsoft datacenters (cloud services) now available in South Africa“.
As part of the Trade Ministry’s requirements for any multi national company operating in South Africa. Microsoft had to make a contribution towards the objectives of South Africa’s Trade and Industry Ministry Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative. In 2011 Microsoft launched the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) as a means of supporting South Africa’s transformation imperatives. It was established to address the ownership element of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and approved by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Microsoft’s Equity Equivalent Programme injects direct funding and business development assistance into several sustainable, independent and majority black-owned software companies in South Africa. The programme targets investments that promote socio-economic advancement and development within the South African economy.
Empowering Next Gen companies
Over the 7 years, Microsoft has identified and supported 8 independent software vendors. For Microsoft the evolved EEIP will drive innovation. Through access to technology solutions and digital transformation to help businesses in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors compete and be successful. Microsoft wants to create experienced and employable young software developers to take advantage of the 4th Industrial Revolution and contribute towards the economic growth of South Africa.
Beneficiary ceo’s from Chillisoft, Maxxor, mmapro IT Solutions, Home Grown and iSOLV Technologies talk about the Microsoft EE program.
Home Grown – Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme recipient.
It has made a massive difference to our capabilities as a busines. Our status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner gives us a great deal of credibility.
One such early beneficiary of the Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme is Home Grown. Home Grown is a utility management service provider. Developing solutions for the mobile cellular industry with a focus on the energy sector. The smart utility management platform uses Microsoft’s cloud technology Azure to forecast electricity demand in real time. It also incorporates external data such as weather measurement and GPS coordination to assist in more effective resource distribution and management.
Then a startup in Kwazulu Natal, Home Grown’s CEO Thaisi Shale, was looking for a way to break into the bigger South African market.
“In 2011 Microsoft confirmed that Home Grown had been formally identified as an Equity Equivalent Programme partner. Securing the business long term financial and strategic assistance from one of the globe’s largest technology pioneers.
Home Grown’s status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner has afforded us the opportunity to solidify our internal resources. Since the announcement we have been able to take on valuable staff in marketing, administration and development. It has made a massive difference to our capabilities as a busines.
Our status as a Microsoft Equity Equivalent Programme partner gives us a great deal of credibility. Microsoft’s input from a strategic perspective has been invaluable. We believe that with their continued assistance we can competitively introduce our solutions to a global market.” – Thaisi Shale, CEO Home Grown
Microsoft announces that Lillian Barnard, Director of Public Sector will assume a new role as South Africa Managing Director.
Lillian Barnard we know has been very active in fostering the women at Microsoft community. DigiGirlz, and other coding initiatives that empower women and girls in technology.
At AfricaCom 2017 we had the opportunity to hear her talk about Microsoft’s Digital transformation being critical to businesses in Africa.
As Microsoft South Africa Public Sector Director, she has helped in shaping the countries digital transformation journey. With programs that include digital skills developement and digital transformation of businesses.
New South Africa Managing Director
Microsoft says “During her tenure at Microsoft, Barnard has pulled together a strong Public Sector team that has delivered innovative digital solutions and helped digitally transform the South African Government. She has also been pivotal in re-igniting the South African chapter of Women At Microsoft and spurring a culture that embraces gender equality in the workplace. Her development and impact as a leader, as a spokesperson, as technologist and as a seller within Microsoft have positioned her as an ideal successor capable of leading Microsoft South Africa into its next exciting chapter“.
Lillian will take over from Zoaib Hoosen who has been at the post for about 5 years.
“Succeeding someone who has led with such distinction is an honour” she shares. “Zoaib has ensured that I will be taking over an extraordinary organisation. The business truly is in a strong position as a result of his commitment over the last five years. I am planning to continue to drive this growth as we move forward“.
Microsoft hosts event to celebrate partner achievement in South Africa.
The award event set aside each year recognizes the contributions of the Microsoft partner community. The community that enable and empower Microsoft’s customers do more.
Microsoft South Africa Managing Director, Zoaib Hoosen, speaking at the award ceremony said “Our partners are the lifeblood of our business. Bringing our platforms and solution areas to life and enabling the success of our customers”.
He reiterated words from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, from the Inspire 2018 partner event. “What binds us together is not our success, but the success our customers achieve”.
Zoaib Hoosen told partners they met their fiscal year 2018 targets as was also shared during the Microsoft Partner CEO Forum in Accra. Where Ibrahim Youssry said Microsoft recorded a record growth in Africa for the first time.
Here are the partners who were adjudged the best in the solutions and services they offer:
Microsoft South Africa FY18 Partner Award 2018 Winners
Managing Director’s partner of the Year
Winner : Mint Management Technologies
Cloud Solution Provider of the Year Tarsus On Demand
Licensing Solution Partner of the Year Dimension Data – Britehouse Group
Cloud Solution Reseller of the Year First Technology Group
Dynamics Customer Relationship Management Partner of the Year Mint Management Technologies
Dynamics Enterprise Resource Planning Partner of the Year Karabina Business Technology Solutions
Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Partner of the Year Karabina Business Technology Solutions
Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Platform Partner of the Year AccTech Systems
Industry Application Development Partner of the Year Karabina Business Technology Solutions
Modern Workplace Partner of the Year Mint Mangement Technologies
Microsoft Software Asset Management Partner of the Year First Technology group
IP Co-Sell Partner of the Year Ascent Technology
Microsoft Retail Partner of the Year Incredible Connection
Microsoft Intelligent Edge Device Partner of the Year Mustek
Best New Practice Partner Ascent Technology
Best Go-To-Market Execution Partner of the Year Award Xcontent Business Solutions
Consumer Distributor & Sub Distributor of the Year Axiz
