Technical consulting

Who we are

Since 1969, Practical Action Consulting (PAC) has been innovating and providing technical assistance to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems.

We have a long-standing international reputation of providing expertise that brings about good development; good government and good business through our work with stakeholders and a diverse client base.

We’re proud to have worked with organisations including the World Bank, FCDO, European Union, Asian Development Bank, Start Network, RTI, GIZ, NGOs and the private sector (e.g. IKEA Foundation, Mobile Power and CDC).

Where we work

We draw on the combined expertise of our in-house experts and a global network of associate consultants. Our teams operate from regional offices in Senegal, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Peru.

Through original thinking, we help people change their world for the better.

Our expertise

Agriculture and market systems

Inclusive supply chains
Market assessments and analysis
Sustainable agriculture

Disaster risk reduction
Nature based solutions
Research methodologies

Humanitarian Energy
Last Mile Distribution
Productive Uses of Energy (PUE)

Research and innovation: putting science into practice

We partner with leading researchers and academic institutions to ensure new research is informed by the concerns of affected communities. Then we collaborate with them to bring innovations and new technologies and techniques to scale.
We design, pilot and scale-up new research methodologies and topics that take into account the needs of the people we work with.
Using our extensive experience of working with local communities, we work with researchers, scientists and other development practitioners to communicate complex information in meaningful ways.

Project innovation

We explore innovative project approaches and ideas that respond to emerging global trends.
As key thought leaders, PAC has led the design and implementation of a number of prominent, internationally recognised projects and programmes. Examples include the Global Distributors Collective, Renewable Energy for Refugees, Moving Energy Initiative and Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities.
We provide technical assistance, expert advice and inputs to a range of clients throughout the entire project cycle. Including community assessments; baseline and feasibility studies; project reviews; participatory planning and multi-stakeholder facilitation.

Inclusive markets development: building income & agency for marginalised groups

We use market assessments and analysis to focus on interventions where change is needed, and establish partnerships with market actors. We also bridge the gap between companies and small scale producers. We work with marginalised communities to develop their capacity in ways that ensure supply chains are inclusive and resilient.
We train farmers and farming businesses in practices that protect natural capital and lead to sustainable production increases, adaptation to climate change and reduction of carbon emissions.
By strengthening producer groups’ capacity we support improved productivity, better quality produce, and aggregation of farmers’ produce. This provides economies of scale and opens up market opportunities for farmers.

Deploying knowledge for impact: seeding success at scale

We ensure that knowledge generated by our work supports learning beyond the projects and programmes themselves. This builds a sustainable and high impact legacy of project findings.
We create high-quality, inclusive audio-visual content that reaches those who are most often excluded from accessing knowledge and research findings.
We are experienced in facilitating face-to-face events and platforms such as communities of practices, training, webinars, international events and information portals.