NGO capacity building for social innovation
Tags: Workers, workforce development
01 December 2008
“Technology can play a crucial role in enabling nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to achieve their goals, share best practices, raise funds and learn from one another. Since NGOs are our partners in delivering great community affairs programs, it is in our interest to support them in building their technology capacities as a route to fostering their key role as social entrepreneurs and innovators.”
Sylvie Laffarge, Director Community Affairs Europe, Microsoft
Microsoft is founded on the belief that information technology has fantastic potential – unlimited potential, even – to change the way people work and communicate. But we also recognise that to enjoy these benefits you need to have access to this technology in the first place, and have the skills and confidence to get the most out of it.
Our community investment programs therefore centre on promoting digital inclusion through skills training, helping people access affordable technology and building up the technology capacity of NGOs. We do this through financial grants, software donations, curriculum donations and employee volunteering. Microsoft also acts as a consultant to advise non-profit organisations on how to apply technology, through ‘NGO Connection Days' and as part of employee volunteering.
Since 1983, Microsoft and its employees have provided over $3.4 billion in cash, services and software to non-profit organisations and NGOs around the world through localised, company-sponsored giving and volunteer campaigns.
Through collaboration, the benefits of technology training extend far beyond the individual who attends courses – they improve the social and economic opportunities of entire families, businesses and communities to foster true economic empowerment.
NGO CONNECTION
Driven by feedback from NGO and nonprofit partners and years of experience working with them, NGO Connection is an online resource provided by Microsoft to assist NGOs to more efficiently use technology to achieve their goals as well as to encourage networking and coordination of NGO resources across the world.
The primary goal of the new online resource is to provide a convenient and easy one-stop shop for technology resources, knowledge sharing, community building and real-life examples for nonprofit organisations. It includes targeted technical help and support resources from Microsoft, and provides access to training and certification programs. It also provides NGOs with a simple approach to understanding grant eligibility and applying for software grants.
iCentres, Bulgaria
By using simple, non-technical terminology, NGO Connection endeavours to make it easier for NGOs to access the complete range of Microsoft resources and offerings, and help them effectively use other online resources for non-profit groups. NGO Connection has recently been localised in Arabic, French, German, Russian and Spanish and is now bringing the resources of NGO Connection to an even wider audience of NGOs.
In addition to the online portal, we hold national NGO Connection Days where local NGOs can learn more about how technology can improve their operations. In fiscal year 2008, nine NGO Days were held in Europe - in Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Technology helps NGOs in many of the same ways it helps any organisation – helping to automate business processes that result in greater productivity, quality, and lower costs, and allowing NGO staff to invest their time into higher value activities that result in greater impact.
Based on Microsoft's research with the NGO community, they face four primary challenges:
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Where to start, including how to plan, how to determine needs, and aligning a technology solution that will solve for the right business challenges.
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How to access the right, relevant technology in an affordable way.
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How to install and implement technology – now that I have the technology, how do I implement my solution?
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How to get ongoing training and support, including connecting with other NGOs that have or are facing
MICROSOFT COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY SKILLS PROGRAM
This global program, established in 2003, supports community technology centres that provide IT skills training to young people and adults, in partnership with governments, non-profits, and non-governmental organisations. Microsoft supports the program through cash grants, software donations, specialised curriculum, and participation of our employees as volunteers.
The Community Technology Skills Program contributes to increasing the employability of the participants by allowing them to acquire the skills necessary to enter the workforce; to acquire new skills needed to enter a new industry or to advance in their current occupation (upskilling and reskilling); or to learn the skills required to start their own enterprises (entrepreneurship). For many participants, the program is a life changing experience, helping them better meet their needs and those of their families and communities.
In the European Union, during fiscal year 2008 Microsoft provided over US$ 9 million in cash grants and over US$41 million in software to charitable organisations and causes.
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE DONATIONS
The Microsoft Software Donation program has been providing software to NGOs and non-profit organisations for 25 years. Today we provide over US$ 300 million in donated software per year to more than 30,000 NGOs and non-profits worldwide. A large majority of the software donations are made to small NGOs, many of whom have limited technology resources – presenting significant barriers to the provision of their front-line services.
Microsoft software donations are focused in 3 key areas tailored to meet different organisations' needs: community software donations, large strategic grants which enable NGOs to change the way they work by incorporating ICT at a deeper level, and Tech- Soup Global, a partner program which enables NGOs to ask for donations, rather than waiting to be approached.
The program allows eligible NGOs to request up to 50 licenses each of up to six separate software titles once every two years. In several countries, the program is delivered through a partnership with a local NGO, and also provides useful web content, tools and resources to NGOs to help them strategically plan for and manage technology in a non-profit environment.
TECHSOUP AND COMMUNITY MAR
In partnership with TechSoup and the Community Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program, Microsoft is making software available to NGOs and non-profits at affordable prices. Our partner TechSoup enhances donations with technology support, content, and resources localised to help NGOs successfully adopt technology tools to enhance their work. It currently operates in nine European countries and plans to further expand in the coming year.
Community MAR enables organisations and people with limited financial means to gain access to computers with legally installed software.
Microsoft works with many refurbishing companies that employ and train people with disabilities and people who have been unemployed for a long time, also promoting employment in the local community. Today, there are over 300 Community MARs in almost 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and they are forecasted to supply licenses for more than 60,000 computers in 2008 alone.
MICROSOFT EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING
Microsoft works to mobilise the skills, knowledge, and volunteer time of its employees to help achieve a shared vision of creating social and economic opportunities in local communities. In Europe, where the Microsoft Employee Volunteering Program was launched in January 2008, full-time employees have the opportunity to take 3 days of paid volunteer leave each year.
The Program also features a new communications tool to facilitate communication and ‘match-ups' between Microsoft employees and local and global charities, community organisations and NGOs. The tool will also track the progress and impact of Microsoft-related volunteering projects; and assist the company to benchmark its performance and progressively develop its policies.
Worldwide during fiscal year 2008, Microsoft contributed more than US$ 498 million in cash, software and matching of U.S. employee contributions to organisations and causes around the world. In the European Union during fiscal year 2008, Microsoft contributed over US$ 50 million in cash and software to charitable organisations and causes.