Plan received the equivalent of US $5 million worth of software licences in 2005, thanks to a Microsoft donation to NetHope member organisations.

The donation has enabled Plan to upgrade software across the whole organisation, allowing us to achieve new levels of efficiency, productivity and service.

Plan used the software to roll out Microsoft Office professional and SharePoint, which has helped staff across the world to work together remotely and share information more easily.

Huge savings

The licences and support offered from Microsoft have allowed Plan to make huge savings and be more efficient and effective in delivering information communications technology (ICT) solutions across the organisation.

Plan Ethiopia's Country Director Simba Machingaidze said: "It saves ICT staff time when you have software on hand without having to go through the hassle of ordering, custom clearing, and activating the licence over the internet. In addition, getting software without cost to Plan Ethiopia means we are spending less on operations and more on programmes."

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