Microsoft partners with UN to bring IT benefits to Africa

Microsoft signed a deal with the UN to help bring IT benefits to Africa at a development summit in Rwanda this week.

As part of the partnership, formed at the Connect Africa summit, the pair will launch Global View, an online platform designed to track and accelerate IT-related development projects on the continent.

Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN's International Telecommunication Union outlining how they will work together.

The partnership will support programmes providing skills development, as well as delivering relevant applications and services in Africa. ITU and Microsoft will also collaborate globally on cybersecurity and provide support for regulators in developing countries.

In addition, they will provide access to computer technology training for young people and opportunities for industry work experience.

Hamadoun Touré, secretary-general of the ITU, said, "Connect Africa is a call to action for the private sector, and we are encouraged by the progress we have made together with Microsoft to broaden the scope of capacity building in Africa."

Michael Rawding, vice-president of the Unlimited Potential Group at Microsoft, said, "Bringing the benefits of technology to the next five billion people will require new approaches to development and new partnerships between international organisations, governments, and the private sector.

"We are committed to applying technology to advance social and economic opportunity".