Welcome to Practical Action's library of resources

We are an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world. 

We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Challenges made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can grow big. 

We’re a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK registered charity with community projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, an independent development publishing company and a technical consulting service. We combine these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works better for everyone. 


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About infoHub

The Practical Action infoHub supports this work by making materials, information and publications publically available for people all over the world to access and use.

 

 

  • Can Market Mechanisms Enable Energy Access for People Living in Extreme Poverty?

    Action, Practical (Practical Action Publishing, 2023)
    Many people in extreme poverty do not have access to electricity. We know the transformational effects that clean affordable energy can have and want people to be able to harness that. So, together with Kuungana Advisory, we investigated the energy access needs and challenges of people living in extreme poverty. We looked at the potential of different business models and market interventions (market mechanisms) to improve communities energy access. Here, you’ll find a series of resources produced as part of this research. The study has been funded by UK aid from the British people via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Using Locally Led Adaptation To Enhance Food And Water Access In Turkana, Kenya

    Intepe, Demet; Ombok, Joel (Practical ActionPractical Action, United Kingdom, 2023-11)
    This working paper looks at the Enhancing Sustainable Water Access in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya (EWASSA) project project funded by Grundfos Foundation and run by Practical Action in Turkana since 2019 to explore how an integrated approach to locally led adaptation (LLA) can effectively address the interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by communities in the region. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the project’s achievements thus far, examine the project’s approach to LLA, and place the project within the larger context of adaptation and adaptation finance in Kenya. Ultimately, the paper intends to understand the extent to which the project has facilitated the participation of communities in key decision-making processes to build their capacity to adapt to climate change impacts.
  • Can Market Mechanisms Enable Energy Access for People Living in Extreme Poverty?

    Action, Practical (Practical Action Publishing, 2023-11)
    Many people in extreme poverty do not have access to electricity. We know the transformational effects that clean affordable energy can have and want people to be able to harness that. So, together with Kuungana Advisory, we investigated the energy access needs and challenges of people living in extreme poverty. We looked at the potential of different business models and market interventions (market mechanisms) to improve communities energy access. Here, you’ll find a series of resources produced as part of this research. The study has been funded by UK aid from the British people via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Transformative Model from emptiers to entrepreneurs

    Practical Action, Bangladesh (Practical ActionPractical ActionUnited KingdomPractical Action, Bangladesh, 2023-10)
    This graphic booklet illustrates the profound impact of the transformative model on the lives of informal sanitation workers, showcasing how it empowers them to transition into entrepreneurs.
  • Celebrating One Year of Resilience Building

    Zvidzayi, Hilton Tafadzwa (Practical ActionPractical Action, Southern Africa, 2023-11)
    The USAID funded Resilience Building for Chimanimani Communities (RBCC) celebrated the project’s anniversary of innovative interventions to build the resilience of communities affected by Cyclone Idai. The project has transformed the lives of more than 32,000 people.

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