Microsoft recently announced that it was extremely excited to be one of the official YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) partners.
So what does it mean to be an official YALI partner?
There has been some confusion around this. In order to clear the air, IT News Africa spoke to Fernando de Sousa, Microsoft GM of Africa Initiatives, to gain clarity on what Microsoft’s official role is.
YALI has been renamed the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
The Q&A session can be found below as well as the original releases straight out of Washington:
1: What exactly is Microsoft’s role in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young Africa Leaders program (previously YALI)?
Microsoft has been a lead partner to the Obama Administration and USAID in the development and implementation of the Young African leaders program. As a result, Microsoft will offer internships to 100 of the Mandela Washington Fellows at the 16 Microsoft offices in Africa. We are also supporting USAID in the development of the Regional Leadership Centers in an effort to engage the more than 50,000 other young leaders who applied for the Fellowships but did not receive them.
2: How and when did Microsoft become involved in the program? Has the company’s role or support changed since initially becoming involved?
Microsoft first discussed YALI with the Obama Administration in April 2013. We were aware that President Obama would be going to Africa in July of last year, and we wanted to convey our strong support for this signature initiative on youth leadership in Africa. Microsoft has always been committed to developing skills on the continent, our support has extended from supporting the fellows to providing support to all applicants (over 50,000).
3: In the official White House press release, it says: “financial aid and in-kind contributions” will come from Microsoft.
– What financial aid, if any, does Microsoft provide?
All of the Mandela Washington Fellows who are selected for our internship program will receive stipends for the duration of their internship, and have their T&E costs fully covered.
– What do the ‘in-kind contributions’ include? Mentor-ship? Technical support and training? Devices?
In-kind contributions can be quite substantial. This can include mentoring from senior Microsoft employees – which was a major request from the fellows, access to Microsoft software and training programs as well participation in Microsoft Technology Leadership Academy – a new initiative to ensure applicants have access to leadership, mentor-ship, training and support in their new endeavors.
4: Will Microsoft be supporting all four regional leadership centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa? Or will the company only be supporting one of the centers?
Microsoft has agreed to support RLCs in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. At the time when we were approached to support the RLCs we were aware of those three centers only. At the same time, we value our strategic partnership with USAID and the Administration and we will ensure that the Senegal Center receives the same support as the other centers. We will also remain in discussions with USAID regarding other opportunities to support the RLCs.
– What sort of support will Microsoft offer to these centers? Leadership and entrepreneurship training? Networking opportunities? Financial aid?
As an example of our support, Microsoft will provide infrastructure set-up of the hubs, devices that will include tablets and all-in-one computers and Dynamic Spectrum Connectivity (in countries available) to ensure continuous access to the internet through TV white space technology in each location. We will also provide leadership training for the interns by Microsoft’s 4Afrika employees.
5: What is included in the technical support and fully-sponsored internships for the 100 YALI fellows?
– What does ‘fully sponsored’ include?
Microsoft will support the interns for three months with cost-of-living stipends and travel support as necessary.
– How long will the internships be?
Three months.
– Where will the internships take place?
Interns will be placed across the 16 Microsoft offices on the continent.
– What will each intern receive (devices etc.)?
Interns will receive training, mentoring and access to other Microsoft resources as appropriate.
– What technical support will each intern receive?
For those interested to become developers, we will provide them with support, mentorship and full access to Microsoft developers tools. They will work closely with our developer team to ensure their applications are competitive and world class.
– What happens to the interns at the end of the internship? Will there be an absorption process?
At the beginning of the internship there will be a week long orientation program, which Microsoft refers to as “onboarding.” At the end of each internship, there will be a full debrief as well as discussions about the ways in which Microsoft can continue to support their career development. We will also drive the discussion with our Partner ecosystem to ensure that the fellows interested in technology can get support required.
– What does this internship program hope to achieve?
The internship is designed to contribute to Africa’s emergence as a continent of opportunity and innovation. Each intern will have a program specifically tailored to their interests in order to enhance their ability to achieve their professional objectives.
6. Are there any further plans to provide support for those promising young leaders that are not selected as YALI interns?
Yes, by supporting the development of the Regional Leadership Centers, Microsoft will provide mentoring and skills enhancement to the tens of thousands of young African professionals who were not selected as Mandela Washington fellows.
7. What selection criteria was used to arrive at the 100 fellows?
All of the Mandela Washington Fellows were invited to apply for the 100 internships. Of the 350 applications that were submitted, we selected those whom we thought we could best support in their professional development.
The original document released by the White House can be found below.
Today, during a town hall with 500 young African leaders, President Obama will announce the expansion of his Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) which was launched in 2010. Through YALI, the United States is investing in the next generation of African leaders, and has committed significant resources to enhance leadership skills, bolster entrepreneurship, and connect young African leaders with one another, the United States, and the American people. Signature aspects of this expansion include:
The creation of four Regional Leadership Centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa.
The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will be renamed as the “Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders” and will be doubled in size to reach 1,000 participants each year by 2016.
New virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces for the YALI Network.
Hundreds of new entrepreneurship grants and mobile incubators, and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015.
Deepening Our Reach on the Continent: Regional Leadership Centers
President Obama announced that the creation of four Regional Leadership Centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. Beginning in 2015, these Centers will improve the availability and quality of leadership training programs and professional development opportunities for young African leaders. Each will be run as a public-private partnership, capitalizing on the energy and dynamism of the private sector, the knowledge of African and American institutions, and the programmatic and educational resources of the U.S. Government. The Centers will focus on engaging young leaders from a wide range of organizations and backgrounds and with a diversity of experiences. The Regional Leadership Centers will:
Provide Quality Leadership Training: Centers will provide both long and short courses on leadership and issues across multiple sectors.
Support Entrepreneurship: Centers will provide entrepreneurship support services, including mentoring, technology, and access to capital.
Enhance Professional Networking: Centers will offer young leaders the opportunity to connect with each other, American professionals, and experts from across the region.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide $38 million for the creation of and programs in the Regional Leadership Centers. American and African companies and foundations have more than matched these funds, providing principal capital for the startup costs, equipment, and technology for the Centers. The MasterCard Foundation will provide financial support over five years to develop the Centers. With financial and in-kind contributions from Microsoft, Dow Chemical Company, Intel Corporation, and Cisco Systems, the U.S. Government will be able to establish and maintain the Centers, and provide business software and hardware, mentoring, and information technology training through them. With in-kind support from Proctor & Gamble, General Electric, Atlas Mara, and McKinsey & Company, the U.S. and its partners will be able to provide leadership training, technical support, and access to capital for young entrepreneurs.
The U.S. Government has joined with the following partners to establish and deliver high quality training, support, and networking through the Centers. In collaboration with USAID, host institutions in Africa will provide instruction and collaboration space, expert training, and coursework for the Centers.
The Center in Ghana will be supported by a consortium of civil and private sector organizations including Africa 2.0, Africa Capacity Building Foundation, Ghana Private Enterprise Federation, and the Center for Policy Analysis, led by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
The Center in Kenya will have a robust training curriculum with direction from a partnership that brings together Deloitte’s global management and strategy skills, the established curriculum and capacity of Kenyatta University, the public administration training of the Kenya School of Government, and Africa Nazarene University’s youth engagement and outreach.
The Center in South Africa will benefit from an education alliance led by the University of South Africa, with support from the University of Pretoria, which brings expertise in governance training, and Innovation Hub, which provides entrepreneurship support.
The Center in Senegal will assist young entrepreneurs through the African Center for Advanced Studies in Management’s experience in professional management studies, the West African Research Center’s youth leadership training experience, and the Synapse Center’s support to young leaders.
Expanding the Flagship Program: The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
Today, in front of 500 Fellows, the President will announce that the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will reach 1,000 participants each year by 2016. The Fellowship currently brings 500 of Africa’s most dynamic young leaders to the United States each year for six weeks of leadership training, networking, and mentoring at top U.S. universities. Training and mentorship are focused on three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and public administration. Upon returning home, the Fellows will have access to professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking, training, and seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations.
Providing the Tools, Training, and Technology to Promote Leadership: The YALI Network
The YALI Network provides virtual resources and vibrant physical spaces to equip young African leaders with the skills and connections they need to improve their communities and their countries. Established by President Obama in April 2014, the Network already includes more than 68,000 members. Using yali.state.gov and social media, the United States provides online courses and materials, and connects members with global leaders in their field. Over the next year, President Obama will continue to engage the YALI Network.
Virtual training, tools, and technology for the YALI Network. YALI Network members will have access to an array of online courses and training materials, along with virtual mentoring and networking opportunities.
Over 20 Curated MOOCs and 60 facilitated MOOC Camps: YALI Network members are able to access more than 20 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and will be offered 60 facilitated courses in MOOC Camps in YALI Spaces across the continent over the coming year. Additional courses, including on vocational education, will come online in the months ahead.
Tailored web training videos: The YALI Network platform will also provide access to tailor-made training videos on leadership, business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management featuring U.S. university professors and experts in their field.
Meetups – the ability to connect at home and in person: The YALI Network website will provide members with a “Meetup” option, which enables members to connect, network and even collaborate on new initiatives.
Creation of state-of-the-art YALI Spaces. Over the next year, American Corners in Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, and South Africa will be outfitted to provide YALI Network members opportunities to meet, learn, and incubate their ideas; spaces in seven additional countries will be renovated over the next two years. YALI staff will facilitate online courses and provide advice on everything from business start-ups to opportunities for study abroad. Meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and business tools will allow YALI Network members to work together to create social ventures, community service projects, and new business start-ups.
Building on a tradition of engagement. All of our embassies in Africa have significant, sustained engagements with young leaders. Currently, 43 embassies have youth councils that provide input into U.S. policies and contribute to the design and execution of U.S. Government programs. Since 2010, the State Department has held 15 exchanges specifically for young African leaders and brought more than 1,600 sub-Saharan young leaders to the United States, through its educational and cultural affairs programs, including Fulbright. In just the past year, embassies have organized over 800 events across the continent to support Africa’s young civic, government, and business leaders.
Supporting Young Entrepreneurs
In addition to the announcements made by President Obama today, the U.S. Government is expanding support to entrepreneurs by connecting them to investors, advisors, and distribution networks.
In 2015, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will be hosted in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. Morocco is hosting this year. YALI Network members will have the opportunity to present at and participate in both summits.
Over the next year, the State Department will lead three partnership opportunity delegations of entrepreneurs and investors to Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Ghana. In addition, the State Department and the U.S. Africa Development Foundation (USADF) will support selected YALI entrepreneurs to attend and participate in the DEMO Africa 2014 conference, to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 25 – 26. DEMO Africa is a platform for top African companies to launch their products and announce to Africa and the world what they have developed.
The United States will continue to provide young Africans access to resources they can use to put their skills to work in service of their communities.
Hundreds of new entrepreneurship grants. USADF is partnering with the State Department to offer $2.5 million in seed funding to members of the YALI Network over the next three years in the form of 250 small entrepreneurship grants. These grants will support start-ups and expansion of businesses and social ventures in six countries in 2015 – Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Mobile incubators will reach at least 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs in 2015. U.S. embassies in Africa will build entrepreneurial capacity beyond the capital cities by training and helping to incubate the businesses of at least 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs from the Network in provincial cities and rural areas during 2015. StartUp Weekend and other experts will accompany a mobile incubator, equipped with the tools and technology to get a business off the ground. Conducted in collaboration with local governments, institutions, and NGOs, the workshops and equipment are designed to walk aspiring entrepreneurs through the basic precepts of starting a business, including writing a business plan, leveraging online resources, raising capital, and expanding market share.
Darryl Linington
