Transforming lives. Inspiring change GLOBAL AMBITION 2030 & STRATEGIC PLAN

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1 Transforming lives. Inspiring change GLOBAL AMBITION 2030 & STRATEGIC PLAN

2 School children in Kenya now have clean water and toilets

3 Transforming lives Inspiring change Technology underpins all aspects of our lives: our health, how our food is produced, how we access water, energy and information, our transport infrastructure. Technology can enable us to live well, with less effort, and fewer resources. In the developing world, the lack of technology is stark: one billion people lack access to electricity; 4 million people die each year as a result of smoke inhaled while cooking on an open fire; and 800,000 children die each year from diarrhoea due to poor water and sanitation. Women and girls represent half of the world s population and half of its potential, but are often excluded from the very technologies that could improve their lives. For over 50 years we have demonstrated the power of simple but innovative uses of technology to transform lives, and there is a growing world view that technology is a key to ending poverty. Now is the time for people across the world to embrace this opportunity and make technology work for people, and the planet. Our vision: Our vision is for a world where all people have access to the technologies that enable them to meet their basic needs and reach their potential, in a way that safeguards the planet today, and for future generations. Our mission: Develop and demonstrate practical, technology-based solutions that enable women and men living in, or vulnerable to poverty lead dignified lives Partner with local communities and other organisations to ensure that the solutions work in the long term Inspire widespread adoption of sustainable technologies that work, so that our pioneering approach can benefit far more people than our work alone. Our Ambition: By 2030 our ambition is to have transformed the way technology is used to improve the lives of people living in, or vulnerable to poverty.

4 strategic plan Our bold ambition to 2030 builds on 50 years experience of bringing communities and experts together to find practical, lasting solutions that help people lift themselves out of poverty while safeguarding the environment. Our three year plan reflects how we will start this journey at country, regional and global levels. We believe that people are more likely to adopt a new idea or a new technology if they see it working for themselves, or learn about it from a trusted source. By 2020 we will work directly with 7.5m people across Asia, Latin America and Africa, to find and demonstrate technologies that can improve their lives. We believe that no organisation alone can bring about the changes needed to benefit everyone. To achieve our ambition, we will do even more to engage and inspire practitioners, policy-makers, markets, funders and communities to work together, so our work can impact the lives of far more people than we can reach directly. From we will continue to focus on improved access to: Energy Urban water, sanitation and waste services Disaster risk reduction Sustainable agriculture

5 How we make change happen Demonstrate Partner with people using technology to find practical solutions that work sustainably Inspire Work to achieve specific policy and practice change and build a global body of support for our cause Transforming the way technology is used to improve the lives of people living in, or vulnerable to poverty Learn Use our work, and others, to capture evidence and adapt our approach to maximise impact

6 Community power in Malawi: building a micro-hydro system

7 Energy access The need Access to energy has the power to transform lives, yet one billion people still live without electricity and over 4 million people die every year as a result of cooking over open fires. A reliable electricity supply allows families living in poverty to become financially self-sufficient and improve their health, education and wellbeing. Why Practical Action? For over 25 years we have worked with remote local communities where access to grid electricity may still be generations away. Working with them to find sustainable solutions, our projects have provided chimneys, clean stoves and renewable energy. The needs of the one billion people without electricity are our focus, and energy for everyone is achievable - but we can t do this on our own. Our Poor People s Energy Outlook reports have shifted global thinking around the social, financial and technical conditions required for success and we are recognised as leaders for research, policy and practical advice across the world. Between now and 2020, our work on energy access will focus on: Off-grid renewable energy access to modern energy for remote rural communities and refugee camps Energy for social and economic use contributing to health, education, farming and business Access to clean cooking fuels improving women s health and well-being. The difference we will make Between 2017 and 2020 we aim to work directly with 2.5m people helping them to access energy and lift themselves out of poverty.

8 A mechanised gulper collects human waste in a Bangladesh slum

9 Urban water, sanitation & waste services The need More than half the world s people live in urban centres. Slum populations are increasing by 10% each year and 1.8 billion people drink water contaminated with faeces. In 2015, diarrhoea was the second biggest cause of death in low-income countries. Huge progress has been made in providing clean drinking water, but access to toilets lags behind. Despite growing demand, there is a global lack of expertise in sanitation, hygiene and waste, especially in poor urban communities. Why Practical Action? We have a long and successful track record in bringing toilets and clean water to slum areas that officially don t exist. We help unite local communities with authorities and the private sector, so together they can work out long-term solutions for waste disposal in slums for the benefit of all. Between now and 2020, our work on access to urban water, sanitation and hygiene services will focus on: Water, sanitation and hygiene access to clean water and toilets, with innovative ways to collect and recycle human waste into commercial by-products Rubbish management scalable business models for waste disposal in slum communities Enabling communities to drive the provision of urban services working with authorities and communities to include informal settlements within the planning process. The difference we will make Between 2017 and 2020 we aim to work directly with 1.3m people to help them access clean water, toilets and waste disposal.

10 An early warning system provides flood alerts in Peru

11 Disaster risk reduction The need Disasters deprive people of their lives and livelihoods, damage infrastructure and productivity, and widen inequality. Vulnerable communities are plunged back into poverty. Women, girls and boys are fourteen times more likely than men to die during a disaster. Over the past decade, the number of people exposed to natural hazards has tripled to more than two billion worldwide, and the associated costs have quadrupled. Yet disaster risk reduction remains hugely underfunded, with less than 0.5% of the global aid budget spent on it. Why Practical Action? We bring hard-to-reach communities and authorities together to plan and create early warning systems that can be managed locally, and develop new approaches to challenging issues such as finance. We play a key role in innovation and research projects with universities and experts to drive new technologies, forging new ways of integrating agriculture and sanitation into community disaster planning. Between now and 2020, our work on disaster risk reduction will focus on: Early warning systems providing the technology needed for early warning and climate forecasting Community based planning enabling communities to set and control their own disaster preparedness Market based approaches accessing insurance, goods and services before and after disasters, to avoid a return to poverty. The difference we will make Between 2017 and 2020 we aim to work directly with 1.2m people, helping them to prepare and protect against the long-term effects of disaster.

12 Farmers in Zimbabwe irrigate their crops with a micro-hydro system

13 Sustainable agriculture The need 800 million people remain undernourished, and one in nine goes to bed hungry. In developing countries, almost 80% of food is produced by smallholders struggling to adapt to climate change. Most agricultural innovation focusses on quick impacts, new varieties and genetic modifications, which are unaffordable for smallholder farmers. We need approaches that combine traditional methods with advances in technology and science. Why Practical Action? We have a strong track record in ecological farming methods for food production and income generation. Our agricultural work introduces communities to affordable, long-term solutions including renewable energy for water management and irrigation, access to finance, and climate resistant crops for better yields and increased income. Between now and 2020, our work on sustainable agriculture will focus on: Agriculture for resilience demonstrating agricultural practices that increase resilience to climate change Agriculture for livelihoods enabling viable agricultural businesses for men and women, to improve their food security, nutrition and income. The difference we will make Between 2017 and 2020 we aim to work directly with 2.5m people on sustainable agriculture methods, helping them to protect their own future.

14 Farmer field schools improve agricultural practices in Nepal

15 Inspiring a community of support Embedding our ideas and approaches into the work of others will catalyse the greatest impact on how technology is used to improve lives. We work to inspire others through: Sharing practical how-to information with individual farmers, entrepreneurs and development practitioners Publishing materials: providing practical knowledge, sharing global research, and stimulating discussion amongst development practitioners Stimulating students and young people, as the decision-makers of tomorrow Mobilising wider public engagement in the countries where we work, and globally, with a special emphasis on engaging the science and technology communities Advising development agencies and others through our consulting services Linking with the private sector globally, nationally and locally Influencing governments and policy makers through our advocacy efforts. A shared ambition Our work to end poverty is far from over. But we re confident that knowledge and technology, together, can enable communities to lift themselves out of poverty. Over the next three years we need to raise more than 100m to achieve our ambition We will only do this by working in partnership with fellow change-makers, who hold the same beliefs and have a shared ambition to solve the world s most pressing problems. Help us achieve our goals and play your part in the future of Practical Action. Join our community +44 (0)

16 Head Office - UK +44(0) practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk Bangladesh practicalaction@practicalaction.org.bd Eastern Africa practicalaction@practicalaction.or.ke Latin America info@solucionespracticas.org.pe South Asia practicalaction@practicalaction.org.np Southern Africa info@practicalaction.org.zw Sudan info@practicalactionsd.org West Africa west.africa@practicalaction.org.uk Practical Action is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Company Reg. No , England Reg Charity No VAT No Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB Photo credits: Andrew Heath, Drew Corbyn, Practical Action Bangladesh, Soluciones Prácticas, Martha Katsi Munyoro, Menila Kharel, Jamie Oliver