Microsoft, groups discuss using IT to aid Africa

Microsoft has launched a second pilot initiative of the African nongovernment organization (NGO) ICT4D Academy in Nairobi, intended to help foster greater ICT adoption.

The academy pilot brought together more than 200 NGOs from across sub-Saharan Africa to share with Microsoft their ICT needs and explore ways of extending the reach of their social and economic development programs, said Ntutule Tshenye, Microsoft citizenship manager for East, West and Central Africa.

"We can only do better when NGOs provide the content. We are here to make sure that we grow the NGOs market share," Tshenye said.

Evan Machera, program officer for Improve Rural Kenya Services, expressed his happiness at participating in the NGO ICT4D Academy. Given the challenges of connectivity, energy and financial issues, Machera is eager to learn what ICT can do for his community, he said.

"We enable people and organizations in underserved communities to realize their potential through the use of technology," said Akhtar Badshah, director of global community affairs for Microsoft.

Nevertheless, Microsoft will be unable to work in communities without electricity, Badshah noted. The company cannot manage to operate everywhere, he said, and it will focus on communities in which the government has invested.

Despite the popularity of free and open-source software, Badshah noted that there is room for both FOSS and Microsoft to play a role in Africa's development. Interoperability, he said, will bring increased economic value to users.