The Emerging Partner Programme is an Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) B-BBBEE initiative by Microsoft South Africa. The program supports the development of 100% Black-Owned Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) in the ICT industry that are aspiring Microsoft Solutions Partners.

The objectives of the program are:

1. To identify, recruit and nurture emerging partners.
2. Support and accelerate development of skills and commercial capabilities of 100% Black owned SMME’s in South Africa through:
   1. Technical Skills Training
   2. Business Development Training
   3. Adoption and Change Management Training
   4. Funding of Microsoft Workloads (subject to budget availability and Scope approval)
3. Support SMMEs in the attainment of a minimum of one and maximum of two Solutions Area Designations for a maximum period of 24 months.
4. Leverage Microsoft ecosystems to expose qualifying and capable partners.