Dr Cheick Diarra is Microsoft`s new Africa chairman, a role that includes working with all stakeholders to bring the benefits of technology to as many African citizens as possible WHEN DR CHEICK DIARRA was approached by a search firm last year to help identify candidates suitable for software giant Microsoft`s newly-created Africa chairperson position, it never occurred to him that he would eventually take on this challenging role.

Dr Diarra is the Unesco goodwill ambassador for the promotion of science and technology education, as well as the development of entrepreneurs.

"The search firm made me aware of the dimensions of the position: being Microsoft`s ambassador in Africa and Africa`s ambassador in Microsoft, taking African issues to Microsoft, and then bringing back solutions to Africa`s unique problems.

"This meant having an awareness of the possibilities of technology [and having] access to all stakeholders, namely NGOs, governments, business, academia and civil society," he explains.

One potential candidate after another was perceived as being unsuitable for the role, for one reason or another, and in time Diarra realised that he himself might be best suited for it, a suspicion confirmed when he was appointed to the position at the end of February.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Diarra`s appointment was announced at the recent launch of Microsoft XP Starter software.

Diarra explains that he is still `transitioning` into his new role, a four month-long exercise, the timeline amply justified by the software giant`s 30-year corporate history and extensive global footprint, and the need for him to familiarise himself with Microsoft`s myriad corporate social development initiatives.

"I need to do a lot of homework in order to come up with a Microsoft Africa plan," remarks Diarra, who will be spearheading Microsoft`s African `citizenship` work.

"I believe that Africa still faces a number of fundamental challenges - not the least of which include education, infrastructure and access to technology," he continues.

Microsoft is already addressing education and access to technology through existing programmes, such as its Partners in Learning and Digital Village initiatives.

In the race to help Africa reach its development goals and reduce the digital divide, true partnerships will be the ones between government, civil society and corporations - they are "the three legs of the stool", he points out. "Through my appointment, Microsoft will work to establish a broad-based partnership with the private sector, government and NGOs to improve the continent through education, and also to find ways to [help] bridge the digital divide," he maintains.

IT HAD BETTER LAST

"Technology is going to be central in any sustainable kind of development scheme," he says.

In addition to fostering relationships with stakeholders throughout the continent, Diarra will also be responsible for identifying ways in which Microsoft can continue to work across Africa through its existing programmes and initiatives,

Diarra explains that although he will be assessing the business impact of Microsoft products on Africa and shaping relevant new business models required by Africans, he will also be travelling throughout the continent to address problems not necessarily tied to Microsoft, such as the aforementioned lack of connectivity and infrastructure in African countries.

The Africa chairman is unable to put an exact figure to Microsoft`s corporate citizenship spending on Africa as yet. "For example, Microsoft is spending about $250 million worldwide on education programmes, but that`s across 101 countries, 16 of which are in Africa. I am still in the process of systematically picking through everything Microsoft does, to put certain activities under an African hat."