Within the framework of Egypt’s Information Society Initiative, and with strong commitment of the Government of Egypt to mainstream ICT in the daily lives of Egyptians, Dr. Ahmed Nazif, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, witnessed today the signing ceremony for an agreement between Microsoft Corp. and the UNDP in Davos, Switzerland. The aim of the agreement is to create and implement technology-related projects to aid social and economic growth in developing nations.

Under the agreement, announced by UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch-Brown and Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates; Microsoft and the UNDP will work together to deliver technology skills training, curricula, and a wide range of software and other resources to underserved communities in developing countries worldwide.

Notably, Microsoft has committed $1 billion over the next five years through its Unlimited Potential grant program to help reduce the global digital divide. According to Microsoft, Unlimited Potential is a global initiative focused on delivering computer literacy training and job skills development to young people and underserved adults through community-based technology and learning centers. Since May 2003, the company has made grants totaling nearly $50 million to more than 150 programs in 45 countries.

Within the scope of the agreement, the two partners will utilize UNDP’s extensive field network in 166 countries, to help ensure that the software, resources and training provided by Microsoft are delivered, and reach the targeted communities in remote and underserved areas. The partnership will develop programs in Egypt, Morocco and Mozambique, and will expand to other countries in the near future.