Information for international bodies and governments
Practical Action
Practical Action is an international NGO, working directly in four regions of the developing world – Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia, with particular concentration on Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
In these countries, Practical Action works with poor communities to develop appropriate technologies under four international programmes - Reducing Vulnerability, Markets & Livelihoods, Access to Services and New Technologies. We have over 100 active projects, and in 2009-10 worked with 943,000 direct beneficiaries.
Our approach
Practical Action works alongside communities to find practical solutions to the poverty they face. We see technology as a vital contributor to people’s livelihoods.
We actively seek to work with communities and adopt a collaborative approach, sharing knowledge and experience. We increase our impact by scaling up success and pushing for policy change that directly benefits poor communities.
We help identify and implement practical, sustainable technologies that people can use to improve their lives. We research, test and demonstrate how they can have a significant impact on poverty.
But we also go further than this. We adapt existing technologies, making sure that success in one country can form a template for success in another. Consequently, our projects make an impact far beyond the communities that initially benefit. We build on successful pilot projects and proven technologies by encouraging communities, governments or other development agencies to adopt them so that more people can benefit.
To maximise the life-changing potential of ideas, we publish books, journals, newsletters and web pages. We offer a technical enquiry service, communicate with the print and broadcast media, provide consultancy services, and influence the content of learning materials to educate and inspire young people.
Annual report
Practical Action's annual report and accounts for 2009-10 are available to download as a PDF file. They include a review of our international programmes against strategic objectives, the report of the independent auditors and a detailed financial statement.
Annual Report & Accounts 2009-10 (PDF, 1.3Mb)
Related documents
1st Place - Poster
Download the summary poster for the "Making Markets Work for Small Holder Farmers and Rural Producers in Bangladesh" project below, which includes details on the problem, what was done about it, and the lessons learnt.
Read more2nd Place - Meet the Winner
Learn more about Patience Samhutsa, the project manager of the "Agro-Dealership Voucher Scheme" project.
Read more3rd Place - Meet the Winner
Learn more about Paca Villanueva, the project manager for "Young Rural Entrepreneurs in Peru".
Read moreAbout Practical Answers
Practical Answers is the Technical Information Service of Practical Action. It aims to provide a resource on small-scale technologies or intermediate technologies that can be used to improve the lives of people living in poverty.
Read moreAbout the Impact Awards
Find out more about the Impact Awards, what they aim to achieve, and the principles they're based on.
Read moreAbout the Impact Awards/
Find out more about the Impact Awards, what they aim to achieve, and the principles they're based on.
Read moreAdaptation
“The best aid to give is intellectual aid, a gift of useful knowledge. A gift of knowledge is infinitely preferable to a gift of material things.” – E.F. Schumacher Practical Answers is the Technical Information Service of Practical Action. It aims to provide ...
Read moreAnnual report and accounts 2010-11
Practical Action's annual report and accounts for 2010-11 are available to download. They include a review of our international programmes against strategic objectives, the report of the independent auditors and a detailed financial statement.
Read moreCase studies
Case studies illustrating the results of some of Practical Action's work in east Africa.
Read moreCatalysing modern energy service delivery to marginal communities in Southern Africa (regional hydro)
This five-year project, funded by the European Commission, will rehabilitate six existing micro hydro schemes and establish nine new ones, targeting the mountainous regions of Manica in Mozambique,...
Read moreClosing the technology gap
We help poor communities respond to the challenges of new technologies, helping them to access effective technologies that can change lives forever.
Read moreCommunity resilience
Helping communities adapt to change and reduce the risks from future crises, through organisation and planning
Read moreCommunity-based adaptation
The following case studies illustrate the results of some of Practical Action Eastern Africa's work:
Read moreCommunity-based adaptation in vulnerable coastal areas of Bangladesh
Duration: March 2011-October 2012 Supported by: Asian Development Bank, Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM) The project aims to mainstream climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in community level planning and programming.
Read moreCompany organisation
Practical Action is a registered charity in the UK and a company limited by guarantee, under the direction of a Board of Trustees.
Read moreCompleted projects
We have a long history of project work in Southern Africa. Here is a selection of recent key projects.
Read moreContact us
Practical Action, East Africa - addresses, telephone numbers and email for our regional headquarters and cluster offices in Lodwar, Mandera, Nakuru and Kisumu.
Read moreDealing with uncertainty
The following case studies illustrate the results of some of Practical Action Eastern Africa's work:
Read more
Practical Action
The Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development
Bourton on Dunsmore
RUGBY
CV23 9QZ
United Kingdom
telephone: +44 (0) 1926 634400
fax: +44 (0) 1926 634401
e-mail: practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk
