Who we are
The right idea, however small, can change lives
Practical Action uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries.
Our strength is our approach. We find out what people are doing and help them to do it better. Through technology we enable poor communities to build on their skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions - transforming their lives forever and protecting the world around them.
By doing this each year we help around a million people break out of the cycle of poverty ... for good.
Where we work
Practical Action works in over 40 countries across the world, with offices in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Peru, Bolivia, Sudan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh.
Our publications, knowledge and approach are used in almost every developing country in the world - extending the reach of our practical approach to tackling poverty.
Why we do it
Practical Action was founded by radical economist and philosopher E.F. Schumacher over 45 years ago. Mostly famous for his 1973 book ‘Small is Beautiful’, he believed in putting people’s real needs at the heart of development, and that's the guiding principle that informs everything we do today.
Practical Action uses low cost, appropriate, small-scale development solutions to help people to help themselves. Whatever we do, our activities are always people focused, locally relevant and environmentally sensitive. Our vision is a world free of poverty and injustice in which technology is used to benefit all.
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.” – E.F. Schumacher
Schumacher's ideas and philosophy continue to inform and inspire our work around the world.
More about Practical Action
Annual Highlights 2000-2001
ITDG Annual Highlights for 2000-2001. This year has seen many successes, both locally and in national and international arenas. The highlights from our programmes around the world show how ITDG's w...
Read moreAnnual Highlights 2002
In the year 1999-2000 , ITDG's expenditure reached £12.9m. The organisation won international awards for its work on shelter, education and multi-media dissemination of practical appropriat...
Read moreAnnual Highlights 2004
A review of our activities over the financial year 2003-4, including financial summary.
Read moreAnnual Highlights 2005
Practical Action's annual highlights for 2005, which review our work around the world supporting poor communities, and look to the challenges of the future. These can be read online or downloaded a...
Read moreAnnual report 2009-10
Practical Action's annual report and accounts for 2007-8 are available to download as a PDF file. They include a review of our international programmes against strategic objectives, the report of t...
Read moreAnnual report and accounts
Practical Action's annual highlights for 2006 review our work around the world supporting poor communities and look to the challenges of the future. These can be downloaded as a full-colour PDF file.
Read moreBoard of Trustees
Practical Action is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity in the UK, under the direction of a Board of Trustees.
Read moreCompany organisation
Practical Action is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity in the UK, under the direction of a Board of Trustees.
Read moreContact us (dev)
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Read moreFinancial overview 1999-2000
In 1999-2000 ITDG had a turnover of £12.9 million (US$20.8 million at current rates). Over half the expenditure financed technology programmes. Around 13 per cent was spent on policy, public ...
Read moreIntermediate Technology
This article was written by EF Schumacher, founder of ITDG/Practical Action, in 1975. It original...
Read moreIs Small Beautiful? conference - Speeches - Pat Mooney
"Small is dangerous: the threat of nano-technology": speech by Pat Mooney to Is Small Beautiful? A one-day conference to mark the 30th anniversary of Small is Beautiful by EF Schumacher to be held ...
Read moreITDG Annual Highlights 2003
Annual highlights 2003 - a review of ITDG's work in markets, services, new technologies and reducing vulnerability, as well as advocacy and education work and the outputs of our subsidiary companie...
Read moreKnowledge - Impact - Influence
The Group Strategy 2003-2007 set out how Practical Action / ITDG will increase its impact and influence in an increasingly divided and fragile world. Practical Action must continue to offer 'practi...
Read moreOur distinctive practical approach
Practical Action's approach to poverty reduction is based on three key attributes: people focussed, practical answers and sustainable solutions.
Read moreOur programme aims
Practical Action aims to help eradicate poverty in developing countries by developing and using technologies, and by demonstrating results, sharing knowledge and influencing others. To achieve thi...
Read morePractical Action on video
The majority of Practical Action's videos can be found on our video channel, but you may also be ...
Read moreSmall is Working
Transcript of the video "Small is Working". The first part looks at the legacy of EF Schumacher's ideas, while the other three examine particular applications of small-scale technology by ITDG to r...
Read moreSmall is Working video
The video Small is Working brings together research and case studies to demonstrate the potential transformative powers of technology. Each video is available to download as a Window Media file, in...
Read moreStrategic Planning in ITDG
At an organisational level ITDG applies a strategic business planning process that is still in its formative years but under active review and improvement. The leading core of the planning system i...
Read moreStrategic Planning in ITDG
The primary objective of the PME system is to provide operational staff with a useful method of facilitating high quality work by promoting good planning, monitoring, review and management of proje...
Read moreStrategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
As an international NGO with a wide range of geographical, technical and social initiatives ITDG realises the high importance of planning, monitoring and evaluating the activities it undertakes.
Read moreTechnology challenging poverty
Technological development is focused on meeting the needs of rich consumers in the developed world. Scant attention is paid to the vital needs of people in the developing world. Practical Action ai...
Read moreWhat we do
All of Practical Action's work is based around four international programme aims: reducing vulnerability, production & markets, access to services, and new technologies.
Read moreWhere we work
World map showing location of ITDG areas of work, with links to country and regional offices.
Read moreScaling up our work
Practical Action aims to help eradicate poverty by developing and using technologies, and by demonstrating results, sharing knowledge and influencing others. Through our international work, we demonstrate alternatives, share knowledge and influence change.
- We aim to tackle the underlying causes of poverty by campaigning to influence policies, institutions and processes. Through our campaigning and advocacy, Practical Action aims to achieve greater and more lasting impact from its work.
- Our Technical Information Service, Practical Answers, aims to provide a means of accessing the wealth of technical information held by Practical Action, through technical briefs or the resource centre.
- Our Education unit offers a range of support services for teachers and young people in the UK looking to address sustainable development within their teaching and learning.
- Lessons from Practical Action's grassroots experience are also spread through consultancy services and publishing activities.
Our head office e-mail address is practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk. Please see here for addresses of individual offices.
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For general information about our work, please e-mail us at enquiries@practicalaction.org.uk For specific technical enquiries, please visit our Technical Enquiry Service, or for specific information about our work around the world select the appropriate office from the list on the right. To e-mail a specific staff member, please send an e-mail to practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk with the person's name in the subject line. |
Head Office | Bangladesh | East Africa | Latin America | Nepal | South Asia | Southern Africa | Sudan |
