•    Seminar addresses role of civil society in youth employability by  leveraging technology in partnership with the public and private sector
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•    Seminar hosted in partnership with ITA Oman & Tawasul

Muscat, Oman, May 10 ,2011 – Microsoft Oman announced that it had hosted a seminar to discuss the role of Civil Society (NGOs) to address youth employability in the sultanate by  leveraging technology in partnership with the public and private sector. The seminar was organized in association with Information Technology Authority(ITA) Oman and Tawasul, the first national, independent and private think tank which promotes an effective and efficient civil society in Oman. The event was held under the auspices of H.E. Yahya bin Badr al Maawali, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Social Development, Oman.

According to Shaikh Saif al Hosni, Public and Education Sector Manager of Microsoft Oman, “Microsoft is actively working to support the Oman Government’s plans to create jobs, enhance innovations, and equip Omani youth with the appropriate skills to build a secure future in knowledge based economy.  In this context, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology skills are essential for ensuring better employment opportunities for young Omanis. Microsoft is committed to partnering with government organizations and other private sector companies to support the role of NGOs in promoting such skills among the youth and enhancing their capabilities to participate in the development of the country.”
According to Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, “Technology can be a powerful tool for advancing social and economic development-enabling people to get a better education, learn new skills to earn a living or start a business. In the hands of nonprofit organizations, technology can boost productivity, increase effectiveness through better collaboration, and extend services to new communities and individuals in need. We welcome Microsoft’s involvement and commend their strong commitment to supporting such vital initiatives. Such initiatives will also benefit the government’s e.oman initiative by opening exciting opportunities to nonprofits to better achieve their missions and accelerate their impact.”
The seminar also featured two panel discussions focused on discussing the skills needed for youth employability in Oman in addition to highlighting the resources that NGOs need to play a role in developing employable skills.


According to Khalid Al Safi Al Haribi, Tawasul Managing Director, “The aim of the seminar was to have representatives from the three sectors (Public, private and Civil Society organisations) to brainstorm together of solutions to the problem of unemployment because after the recent unrest, generating employment has become a priority for Oman. So, we wanted to discuss what the society can do to improve employability.”
He added, “During our discussions, we managed to get around fifteen suggestions from different social and private sector organisations for the year 2011-12. We will also work closely with our partners like Microsoft and ITA to help jobseekers in developing skills to face interviews and enhancing communication skills. The next step will be to assess together the feasibility of the said suggestions and initiatives and turn them into concrete action plans.”

Microsoft is committed to helping nonprofits unleash technology to advance social and economic development. The corporation does this in the following ways.

Provide Access to Stable and Secure IT
Microsoft firmly believes that nonprofits must have access to stable and secure technologies. A fundamental way that Microsoft provides this access is through software donations which provides access to the best available technology. Whether they are small organizations using software to run local offices or global humanitarian assistance operations with complex technical systems, Microsoft helps nonprofits gain access to existing software, curriculum, and technical knowledge they need to fulfill their mission.

Optimize Service Delivery
Access to technology alone is not enough. Microsoft is also committed to increasing access to IT services, solutions, and training to help nonprofits use technology to expand their reach, improve their services, and accelerate their impact. Microsoft hosts NGO Connection Days around the world so that nonprofits and NGOs can learn from experts and one another about the potential impact of technology on effective mission-delivery.

Transform Through Innovative Technology
Innovative technology and the innovative application of technology can transform a single organization or entire categories of nonprofits by dramatically altering the way they do business. To drive transformational change, Microsoft forms strategic alliances with leading nonprofits and nonprofit consortiums to explore how technology can create social and economic opportunity in new, effective, and potentially scalable ways.