Practical Action

Registered Charity No 247257

Background
Practical Action is an international development agency working with poor communities to help them choose and use technology to improve their lives for today and generations to come. Our work in Africa, Asia and Latin America is in partnership with poor people and their communities, building on their own knowledge and skills to come up with innovation, sustainable and practical solutions. Our work is people focused, locally relevant, environmentally sensitive and offers tangible ways out to poverty. Through our work we demonstrate alternatives, share knowledge and influence change.

Mission
Practical Action aims to eradicate poverty in developing countries through the development and use of technology, by demonstrating results, sharing knowledge and influencing others.

Method of Operation
Practical Action believes that the right idea – however small – can change lives. It can create jobs, improve health and livelihoods, and help people have better lives. That's why, since 1966, we've been working with poor people to develop the skills and technology that will enable them to build a better future. Is small still beautiful? We think it is. In an increasingly divided and fragile world, Practical Action aims to demonstrate and advocate the sustainable use of technology to reduce poverty in developing countries.

With our commitment to poverty reduction, environmental conservation and technology choice we think Practical Action is uniquely placed to contribute to a world free of poverty.
Practical Action has a unique approach to development – we don't start with technology, but with people. The tools may be simple or sophisticated – but to provide long-term, appropriate and practical answers, they must be firmly in the hands of local people: people who shape technology and control it for themselves.

Practical Action's approach really is unique – and we focus our work on four key areas:

• We help reduce the vulnerability of poor people affected by natural disasters, conflict and environmental degradation – events which, sadly, are increasing.
• We help poor people to make a better living – by enabling producers to improve their production, processing and marketing.
• We help poor communities gain access to basic services – like safe, clean water, food, housing and electricity.
• We help poor communities respond to the challenges of new technologies, helping them to access simple effective technologies that can change lives forever.

In everything we do, Practical Action is about bringing positive, lasting change to people's lives.
Practical Action – with the strapline, Technology Challenging Poverty – sums up what we do, making a practical difference in the lives of poor people. We recognise the importance of technology and hands on work. We share knowledge and work together with communities. In policy debate, our work focuses on delivering practical changes that positively impact on the lives of poor people.

Practical Action is a charity registered in the United Kingdom which works 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.
Lessons from Practical Action's grassroots experience are spread through consultancy services, publishing activities, education, advocacy and campaigns and through an international technical enquiries service.

History
Practical Action was founded in 1966, as ITDG (the Intermediate Technology Development Group), by the radical economist Dr EF Schumacher to prove that his philosophy of ‘Small is Beautiful’ could bring real and sustainable improvements to people’s lives.

Until 2005, Practical Action was known as ITDG - the Intermediate Technology Development Group. Changing our name did not change our work in any way, but rather to help us communicate our work to a new, wider and possibly younger audience.