Microsoft and M-PESA Africa Join Hands to Develop Digital Skills for MSMEs

By Samuel Ouma

Microsoft, through its Africa Transformation Office and Microsoft Philanthropies, will partner with M-PESA Africa to support its Capability Development Academy.

Through the collaboration, Microsoft will give MSMEs in numerous African markets access to the Microsoft Community Platform and SME Skilling Programs to support capacity building and digitalisation.

M-PESA will digitise skilling and use the community platform to provide MSMEs with the ability to create better business models, manage their finances, and provide first-rate customer support using the Microsoft Community and Training platform.

“In line with our purpose of transforming lives, we continue to pursue innovations and partnerships that connect customers and businesses across the continent to more opportunities while uplifting their livelihoods,” said Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director – M-PESA Africa.

“We are excited to partner with Microsoft to upskill entrepreneurs and provide them with business tools that will enable them to run their businesses better and to grow their businesses. Micro, Small and Medium businesses are the backbone of African economies and therefore empowering them to succeed creates an even larger impact for their communities due to their outsized economic contribution.”

SMEs contribute 40% of the GDP and at least 90% of new jobs in emerging countries.

However, despite having the greatest rate of entrepreneurship globally, data shows that up to 80% of African SMEs fail within the first five years.

Some of the significant potential roadblocks for SMEs are access to capital, digital skills, and business enablement technologies.

Microsoft will provide MSMEs with tools to expand their market access through its Africa Transformation Office, considerably contributing to the overall growth of economies.

The firm strives to provide 10 million African SMEs with digital capabilities through pertinent business apps and ready-to-use skilling courses.

“Digitisation can significantly enhance financial inclusion, most particularly for unserved and underserved enterprises such as MSMEs. Creating an enabling environment for these important economically active businesses that helps them thrive and participate actively in the continent’s economies is essential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth," said Gerald Maithya, Managing Director, Africa Transformation Office, Microsoft.

Microsoft skilling programs accessible through M-PESA business solutions will enable MSMEs to get the information they need to better manage their money, including basic accounting, financial planning, and cash flow management.

These abilities increase their chances of obtaining official financial services such as bank accounts, loans, and company insurance. Adopting digital technologies, in turn, facilitates access to digital payment systems, which may help MSMEs save time and save costs associated with manual transactions.

Microsoft's skill development programs will also assist MSMEs in developing the entrepreneurial abilities required to launch and run a successful firm.

This program aims to enhance the livelihoods of MSME entrepreneurs and their communities while also providing possibilities for these small enterprises to participate in the global market.

The program will be available in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania, among other M-PESA Africa markets.