As recognition for its commitment to empowering women with technology, Microsoft Gulf received the ‘Best Arab Corporate Social Responsibility Award’ of the Year from the Union of Arab ICT Association, IJMA3. The Arab GoldenChip Awards recognize the top organizations in the region who have contributed to the development of ICT in the Arab world.

Aiming to harness ICT towards the fulfillment of critical regional economic-development challenges, IJMA3, an international non-governmental/profit organization presented the award to Microsoft for its overall Citizenship program and its significant contribution in empowering women through programs such as the Women in Technology (WIT) across the MENA region. The WIT program helps equip women with business and technology skills and encourages them to participate in today’s global workforce and gain economic independence. By 2010, WIT will train more than 10,000 low to middle income women in underserved communities across the MENA region.

Samah, a former WIT graduate explains, “The WIT program showed me who I am. The program has helped me to widen my knowledge, to know more, to develop myself and to strengthen my skills in my journey to find a job. With the WIT program, many women like myself, for the first time, have the opportunity to enter the workforce equipped with the skills we need to make a difference to ourselves, our families and our communities.”

Speaking on the significance of the award, Mr. Nizar Zakka, Secretary General of the Union of Arab ICT Associations- IJMA3 said, “Technology is the ignition key for job growth, economic development and creating sustainable solutions to global problems. We commend Microsoft for its valuable contribution in empowering women across the region and creating greater opportunities for them to be part of the workforce. IJMA3 remains committed to supporting endeavors such as this that aim to develop and enhance the commercial skills of women to help grow the future economy and create greater opportunities for them to be part of the workforce.”

Microsoft was also invited as an observer to the Union of Arab Associations where senior Microsoft officials highlighted the value of innovation, Microsoft’s partnership framework and the company’s commitment to support the ICT eco-system in the region.

Charbel Fakhoury, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf said: “We are honored to receive this prestigious award and will continue our efforts towards the development of female professionals in the Arab world. Microsoft believes that providing the required ICT training and tools will help bridge the technological and gender gap and help women realize their full potential. Through the WIT program, women can get jobs, increase their earning power and advance their education so they can help contribute to national competitiveness.”

WIT is a partnership between Microsoft, IIE, MEPI, and fifty local organizations in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen to deliver Microsoft Unlimited Potential, Entrepreneurship and Professional Development training to low and middle income women in underserved areas. The program focuses on five key areas such as Professional Development Training, Business Planning for Sustainability, IT Training through Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP) Curriculum, Professional Development Networks for Women, and Professional Exchange and Capacity Building.

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