Information for press and media
Practical Action
Practical Action was introduced more than 40 years ago by radical economist, philosopher and author of Small is Beautiful, Dr EF Schumacher. The charity’s ethos is the right idea – however small – can change lives, create jobs and improve health and livelihoods. The tools to reduce poverty may be simple of sophisticated, but to provide long-term practical answers, must be placed firmly in the hands of local people.
By taking small steps and working with existing resources, appropriate ideas can help people to help themselves. Working in 11 countries worldwide, Practical Action’s unique approach to development had had a positive impact on the lives of millions.
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.
Where we work
Practical Action works in 12 countries across the World including 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.
Practical Action at work
A series of illustrated introductory documents about our project work around the world.
Energy: the power to change lives
Even today, millions of people living in developing countries have no access to modern energy. This four-page leaflet gives an overview of how Practical Action works to put the power in the hands of the people who need it.
Find out about our simple ideas - an introduction to Practical Action
A short, eight-page leaflet explaining Practical Action's unique approach to international development, with examples of how we work together with people and their communities to reduce poverty.
Focus on Peru: Practical Action working in Latin America
A brief introduction to Practical Action's work in Latin America, providing a snapshot of the problems communities in Peru face and how we are helping them overcome some of these difficulties.
Focus on Sudan
An overview of Practical Action's work in Sudan - a country with many challenges, requiring multiple answers
Improving access to services
A brief introduction to how we are working with poor communities to help provide access to basic services such as energy, water, sanitation, adequate shelter and transport.
Making markets work for the poor
A brief introduction to our Markets and Livelihoods programme, supporting small producers to overcome poverty and sustain their livelihoods by improving their ability to access, and get more from, the market.
New technology challenging poverty
An introduction to the new technologies have been helping to disseminate information to isolated communities.
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Updates 02 (Aug-Dec 2012)
In this edition we present our perspective on the recent Qatar Convention - Doha Climate Change talks. We reiterate our commitment in advocating for Sustainable Energy for All (SEA4All) where we present the 'Waterbuck Declaration' - a commitment we drew in December 2012. We also present stories...
Practical Action history - timeline
A timeline of Practical Action / ITDG's first 40 years, from its foundation in 1966.
Practical Action: our story (2 page version)
This is a story of 2 billion people living in poverty - and what we can do to help change their lives forever. This is the two-page version of Practical Action's "narrative" - who we are and the values that inform our work. A longer 20-page version is also available.
Reducing vulnerability: enabling poor people to build secure lives
An introduction to how we are working with communities living in environments that are prone to hazards such as floods, landslides and drought.
This is Practical Action: technology challenging poverty
An introduction to Practical Action's work, outling our vision, mission and programme work.
Transforming lives: sources of funding and information
A guide for organisations seeking funding for development projects. It suggests various publications on grant making agencies and offers advice and suggestions for preparing a project proposal.
Transport: the road out of poverty
An overview of Practical Action's transport work - from helping communities construct roads that will not be washed away to installing gravity ropeways to help remote communities get their produce down mountains to local markets.
Urban poverty - a changing environment
A four-page overview of Practical Action's work with urban communities in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Zimbabwe, helping families find solutions to the problems arising from the environment in which they live.
Waste management: the poor are bearing the burden
Millions of people in the developing world rely on waste collection to make their living. This leaflet explains how we are working with some of the poorest communities to help make changes to their waste collection methods to improve not only their income but also their environment.
Water: finding a pure and simple solution to poor people's basic needs
More than a billion people do not have access to water. We are working with many of poor communities in the developing world introducing simple technologies that will enable them to have access to safe clean drinking water, as well as water to irrigate crops.
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News and media enquiries
For all media enquiries, please contact Abbie Upton, press and media officer.
Email: abbie.upton@practicalaction.org.uk
UK office hours: +44 (0)1926 634510
Out of hours: +44 (0) 07714 205342