Africa to benefit from $250 million IBM volunteer program

Africa is set to benefit from IBM's US$250 million Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program, whose members work with charities and nonprofit groups around the world.

The fund will expand the program that sends rising stars within the company to developing countries to polish their leadership skills in diverse environments, said CSC member Matt Berry.

Corps members currently work with organizations in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana on a variety of business and technology initiatives, and CSC is hoping to expand its reach into other African countries by next year.

The team in Tanzania consists of nine IBM employees from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, India, Eritrea and New Zealand, Berry noted. Each team member has a different area of expertise, be it IT consulting, human resources, financial management, sales or communications and public relations, he said.

In East Africa, CSC is working with the African Wildlife Foundation, creating business plans to help AWF continue land conservation while generating revenue and putting together plans to build lodges on some conservation land, Berry said. The team is also working with KickStart and The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, helping to make TATO's Web site more interactive.

In Ghana, CSC has worked with Kumasi Glue, Golden Web and Raktia Holdings under the Association of Ghanaian Industries. The group has also assisted Ghanaian artists in a feasibility assessment of e-commerce opportunities, preparing them for entry into a direct relationship with their consumers, said John Tolva, a member of the Ghana team.