Poor people are often excluded from essential services such as water, sanitation, energy, education and health – as well as lacking adequate shelter.

Improving access to services for poor people is one of Practical Action's key strategic aims. Practical Action works with poor people throughout the world to build on their skills and local knowledge, and to use appropriate technology, to improve their lives.

Locally-managed, sustainable and decentralised services offer low-income communities the best hope of satisfying their need for affordable water, sanitation, housing and energy.

Practical Action is improving access to services - which include energy, transport, shelter, waste, water and sanitation, and information services - using locally managed, decentralised solutions which are often the most appropriate to the needs of the poor.