Empowering NGOs with technology

In the digital world that we currently inhabit, technology has empowered people with the education and skills they need to earn a sustainable living, or even start a fully-fledged business. Placed in the hands of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), technology can work as a powerful force, opening doors to incredible opportunities for nonprofit organisations to extend their services to new communities and touch the lives of individuals in need.

 

In many cases, NGOs and other organisations suffer a loss of valuable time when using outdated technology. This is why Microsoft offers software grants that include customer-relationship management (CRM) and SharePoint, to allow NGOs to use genuine software that can speed up their work processes. They are also able to create specialised project pages, where managers in all sectors can access updated information and remotely update this information in real time. Ultimately, NGOs are able to generate more resources and implement more projects to fulfill their missions more efficiently.  

 

As part of our commitment to ensuring that people benefit from technology, Microsoft is helping nonprofit organisations to realise the power of technology through NGO Connection Day. Many NGOs have already benefited from this event, as evidenced by the increasing number of participating organisations over the past five years. 

 

One extraordinary example of an NGO that has benefited from Microsoft’s help is the Kenan Institute Asia (K I Asia). A large Bt4-million software grant, including CRM and SharePoint, helped K I Asia to become more efficient at updating project opportunities and recording meeting notes, client deadlines and underlying funding cycles of clients and potential clients. Last year, K I Asia was able to implement 33 discreet projects in five countries, involving nearly 6,000 direct beneficiaries.

 

Through its software donations, Microsoft provides NGOs with access to stable and secure technologies. In its 2010 fiscal year, it donated software worth Bt15.12 million to almost 43,700 organisations around the world, including Thailand. The software-donation programme covers more than 100 countries, and has provided NGOs with software worth more than Bt117 billion since it was formed in 1998. The programme was recently updated to make access to software easier for nonprofit and community organisations.

 

The goal of Microsoft’s software donations is to help organisations increase their productivity, allowing them to serve more people and offer services to benefit local communities. NGO Connection Day is a valuable resource from which NGOs can access information and products that help them move forward in their mission to make the world a better place in which to live.

 

Birathon Kasemsri na Ayudhaya is managing director of Microsoft (Thailand).