2019-07-11 09:28
Monsoon has approached and flood can occur anytime, which requires actions based on different community contexts, with available flood early warning systems entailing interrelated components… Read More
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For over 40 years, we have been working closely with some of the world's poorest people - using simple technology to fight poverty and transform their lives for the better.
2019-07-02 11:16
“You guys really need to do something,” a restaurateur in Bonn, Germany told us when he learnt that we were in the city to attend United Nations Bonn Climate Conference from 17 t… Read More
2019-07-01 10:48
The renewable energy market has grown rapidly in recent years, with vast and successful national programs and initiatives reaching upper poverty quintiles. However, big areas of energy pover… Read More
2019-06-25 10:39
Almost 200 kilometres west from Kathmandu lies a small village called Rainas in Lamjung district. It is one of the villages which was hard hit by the 2015 earthquake. 83 year old Sape Damai… Read More
2019-06-12 10:01
Few months back, I was visiting one of the project sites where we are supporting smallholder dairy farmers, particularly in better production techniques, access to improved breeds, improved… Read More
2019-06-10 08:55
Beating drought with ingenuity, Turkana.
Climate change is leading to increasingly frequent and more severe hazards and disasters. It’s something that is effecting us all but varies in… Read More
2019-05-31 10:25
As shown in the latest UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) tracking report published last week, we are making some progress towards the goal of universal energy access by 2030. The numb… Read More
2019-05-30 12:45
“We never used to have mosquitoes here in the winter. Now we have them all year round,” said Purnima Chaudhary, the co-ordinator of a flood resilience group we helped form in the… Read More
2019-05-29 09:45
One Vision Creating Countless Hope.
Entrepreneur Lily Akhter.
From a destitute victim of river erosion to a successful entrepreneur, it’s not been an easy path for Lily Akhter (58). A… Read More
2019-05-29 09:30
Uttam Kumar Saha is a Strategic Lead of Urban and Energy for Practical Action in Bangladesh.
I went to the northern Char areas in Rangpur last week along with the Agriculture team to facilit… Read More
2019-05-21 11:25
Absorbing failure and learning from it is not always easy. Building on failure is even more challenging and requires great strength of character. This Practical Action story has remaine… Read More
2019-05-12 14:19
The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) takes place every two years. The platform is the foremost gathering for experts to explore how to reduce disaster risk and bu… Read More
2019-05-08 09:46
In West Africa, demand for food and processed food is increasing mainly due to demographic pressure while smallholder farmers and processors face difficulties to respond to this deman… Read More
2019-05-07 12:54
The impact of the fashion industry on water resources in Bangladesh
Photo by Sarah Beckhoff
Bangladesh is the second largest garment exporting country in the world. Around 80% of the co… Read More
2019-04-23 14:02
Mary Allen leads Practical Action’s work on agriculture and climate resilience in West Africa. She has lived in the region since 1986, working on natural resource management and… Read More
2019-04-23 03:41
Not only in Nepali context , around the globe in taking actions to disaster, among Ex-ante action and Post ante-actions, post disaster interventions are more observed than ex-ante actions. T… Read More
2019-04-19 11:00
(This is the first part of my photo story series on community-led small irrigation projects slowly turning the table for Karnali’s farming families)
It is almost needless to say, Karna… Read More
2019-04-17 14:41
I did it!! I wrote an article that has been published in the Association for Science Education’s journal School Science Review. It felt like an honour to be asked, an… Read More
2019-04-15 06:22
This was my first trip to Karnali, a region yet to be explored, where I observed several interventions made by the BICAS project and met with a number of community people and civil society o… Read More
2019-04-12 08:10
I never thought that I would so enjoy such a charming breakfast and chit-chat with women from different corners of the world at the ‘Citywide Inclusive Sanitation Principles’ wor… Read More
2019-04-10 15:13
Earlier in March at the 2019 UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63) I was able to share some initial insights about the gender issues facing women in Bangladesh who earn a living from… Read More
2019-04-01 10:23
Practical Action is working in West Africa to help small-holder farmers and people living in low income households, improve their management of and resilience to climate related risks such a… Read More
2019-04-01 08:25
Access to clean and affordable energy is an important determinant in the livelihoods of all rural and urban people, however, only a few have access to an adequate gas supply for cooking and… Read More
2019-03-20 09:39
After four years as a member of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (“the Alliance”), I had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of our work in West Nepal. Practical Action and ou… Read More
2019-03-13 18:25
Empowering women in the energy access sector is a no brainer. Including the perspectives and skillsets of over 50% of the population is not just the right thing to do, it benefits businesses… Read More
2019-03-07 17:59
#BalanceforBetter
Climate change is now accepted as a global crisis, but solutions have so far been inadequate and have largely ignored human and gender dimensions. This is despite the fact… Read More
2019-03-06 11:24
On Friday, the world is celebrating International Women’s Day. People around the world will be celebrating women’s achievements whilst calling for a more gender-balanced wor… Read More
2019-02-28 17:46
The weakest link is the limit of strength of the chain. No matter how strong the other links are, individually, the chain can be no stronger.
When we engage in international development, we… Read More
2019-02-26 05:11
Livestock as an important segment of the agricultural sector of Bangladesh has seen an exponentially growing demand. Its prospects as a driver of substantial and sustainable socio-economic c… Read More
2019-02-18 16:03
Most families in north-west Bangladesh rely on farming small plots of land to make a living. But it’s hard to make enough to live on. Men often have to leave their families to work in… Read More
2019-02-15 15:56
Globally, just under one billion people have no access to electricity. This means no effective lighting to study at night, no refrigeration to keep medicines, and limited opportunities to ru… Read More
2019-02-14 15:19
Next week sees an important gathering of practitioners, government representatives, funders and others focusing Faecal Sludge Management. From lowly beginnings in Durban in 2011, the growing… Read More
2019-02-01 17:42
With 3 billion people still lacking access to clean cooking and almost one billion people without electricity, huge amounts of funding are needed to close the energy access gap. The Climate… Read More
2019-01-29 11:20
Practical Action’s new STEM Solar Challenge offers a great opportunity for young people to explore how solar power can transform the lives of people living ‘off-grid’.
Set… Read More
2019-01-22 17:25
The plight of the Rohingya people, dubbed as the world’s fastest-growing refugee crisis, has struck a chord with people from all over the world. Fleeing the destruction of their homes… Read More
2019-01-18 04:47
When we reached Deurali Interlocking Block Udyog, a small enterprise making compressed stabilised earth bricks (CSEB), Simon Tamang was working alongside five workers. He was watering a stac… Read More
2019-01-17 13:44
Another year for us at the ASE Conference and as always it was AMAZING!
Of all the conferences we go to throughout the year this one always inspires us the most.
This year we were promoting… Read More
2019-01-15 11:53
The first time I came across a gravity goods ropeways was a long, long time ago in Dhading . I was on a bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu and saw this giant cage coming down a hi… Read More
2019-01-02 06:43
I always get ‘fascinated’ by gravity goods ropeways. The first time I came across one was in Dhading. I don’t remember exactly when but I am sure it was a long long time ba… Read More
2018-12-20 12:44
The climate change talks in Katowice were a roller coaster of highs and lows with a wide variety of issues on the agenda. As diverse as the agenda were the claims of the parties to the conve… Read More
2018-12-19 10:35
As the year cones to an end, in the Practical action Schools team we have been reflecting on our top five highlights of the year. It’s been a great year so hard to choose, but he… Read More
2018-12-18 06:27
The Supply Chain Project, unique and innovative in its approach, intervened through the market systems, promoted local enterprises and introduced innovative solutions to provide affordable q… Read More
2018-12-13 07:47
It was a typical October afternoon in Kuldevmandu, Bajura. The sun was blazing like a fiery medallion in the sky, yet I could feel the chill. The small pavement by the road was filled with d… Read More
2018-12-05 14:40
These were the words spoken by living legend, Sir David Attenborough at the COP24 climate change negotiations in Katowice, Poland this week. The renowned naturalist and broadcaster took up t… Read More
2018-12-03 21:38
“Right now we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years, Climate Change”
Today, at the climate conference Sr. David Attenborough d… Read More
2018-11-27 17:38
Negotiators have spent the last 18 months deliberating two elements which will guide the work of governments, institutions, and UN bodies around the world on using technologies to tackle cli… Read More
2018-11-22 14:38
Written by the GDC partners
Co-written / endorsed by leading last mile distribution companies
 &hell…Read More
2018-11-19 10:20
26th October 2018 marked a landmark moment for the town of Dhenkanal, with the ceremonial inauguration of the town’s faecal sludge treatment plant.
The ceremony was presided over by th… Read More
2018-11-16 16:33
When your job is writing materials to engage the next generation in Practical Action’s work there is nothing more satisfying when you see that in action!
Last month I went to Jersey wi… Read More
2018-10-25 11:12
General Information:
About 40% Nepalese women are economically active and they bear the double burden of works in the family chores and doing farm works. But, the women from Manaagaun and i… Read More
2018-10-08 06:58
In 2015 the Paris Agreement, the global compact signed by the governments of the planet to tackle climate change, was agreed. In the negotiated process to reach this agreement some gove… Read More
2018-09-29 19:41
Practical Action was present at the launch of the book Climate risks beyond adaptation? Loss & Damage from climate change, concepts, methods and policy options held at the Grantham Resea… Read More
2018-09-25 10:36
Last week the World Bank released an update of its ‘What a Waste’ report. It highlights how over 90% of waste in low-income countries is openly dumped or burned. This affect… Read More
2018-09-11 12:00
The inherent functionality of ICT to easily transfer information helps to overcome barriers of traditional extension services. ICT extension services improve quality of agricultural informat… Read More
2018-09-11 05:49
“An ounce of practice is generally worth more than a ton of theory.”
– Ernst F. Schumacher, Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics as if People Mattered
My kind of Hero… Read More
2018-09-09 04:25
In the recent pasts, it has been observed that human activities play prime role in creating disasters. The impact of 2015 earthquake in Nepal took lives of 9,000 people and completely damage… Read More
2018-09-06 14:33
The last few years have started to place climate change back on the political map, not in respect to astounding stories of climate denial but because the foresight of scientists such as Jame… Read More
2018-09-03 08:40
Practical Action Publishing was in the forefront for us this year at World Water Week in Stockholm. The event is a key point in the WASH calendar with 3,700 delegates over a packed week of d… Read More
2018-08-20 08:53
Could a palm-sized $10 computer become a life-saving tool against disasters and climate change? In this blog, Rob Mullins (Raspberry Pi co-founder) and Miguel Arestegui (Disaster Risk Reduct… Read More
2018-07-31 11:08
One of my (not-so-pleasant) vivid memories, is witnessing overflowing sludge from the septic tank at our home when I was studying at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology… Read More
2018-07-26 21:37
For the past week I have been visiting the Practical Action programme in Bangladesh to support their work on resilience programming. I attended the wrap up meeting of the GRP Project, worked… Read More
2018-07-26 11:13
The term “green business” is barely understood by the majority of people, even the business fraternity.
There is no clear definition of “green business” in Bangladesh… Read More
2018-07-11 11:12
Understanding Risk is a global community of researchers and practitioners working to identify, assess and communicate disaster risk. This year, the fifth Understanding Risk Forum was held in… Read More
2018-07-05 10:06
This is not a normal garden but a constructed wetland with Canna lily and Phragmites karka — components of a decentralized faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) at Gulariya municipalit… Read More
2018-06-29 15:31
It was a day of learning new skills, problem solving, developing understanding of global issues, breaking down stereotypes and a lot of fun at Birmingham City University last Friday. All in… Read More
2018-06-28 13:13
Why is technology justice central to international development?
As history demonstrates, technology provides a catalyst for change. Practical Action has been working on flood Early Warning S… Read More
2018-06-27 10:46
This is the second part of “doing development in a digital world“ blog post series. You can read the first part here.
The Internet has had profound impact on our lives &ndas&hell…Read More
2018-06-21 05:17
Access to extension services is one of the critical constraints in agriculture. Only 15% of the worlds’ extension agents are women. Globally, women have limited access to agriculture i… Read More
2018-06-20 15:23
At Practical Action we are delighted that the examination board AQA have included ‘support to developing countries’ as one of their recently released contextual challen… Read More
2018-06-18 08:20
Dakshin Sahipur, a small village near the bank of Karnali River gets flooded every year. Most of the residents here are former bonded labourers, freed after the Government of Nepal abolished… Read More
2018-06-15 11:46
There was an Afghan, a Pakistani, an Ethiopian, a Somalian and an Englishman…. Sounds like the start of a bad joke but fortunately it is not!
But it is a reflection of the global inte… Read More
2018-06-13 05:02
USAID/OFDA funded project, implemented by Practical Action and Nepal Red Cross, joined hands with government agencies and communities to organise mock flood exercises in Kankai and Kamala Ri… Read More
2018-06-13 04:34
Disaster preparedness is crucial for prevention of losses and successful coping as well as building community flood resilience. Better preparedness ensures reduced loss of people, their asse… Read More
2018-06-12 09:41
Chandra Bahadur Rokka Magar and his neighbours, the residents of Tikapur Municipality, ward number 5 of Kailali district, face the wrath of floods every year.
Chandra Bahadur showing water l… Read More
2018-06-11 10:24
At CBA12, Practical Action is working with IIED and its conference partners to lead an ‘adaptation technologies’ workstream, exploring how technologies can be used to enable comm… Read More
2018-06-08 11:20
Life in high hills and mountains is not very simple. Access to resources, market, education to even health and other basic services are bleak due to treacherous geography; not to mentio… Read More
2018-06-08 06:53
By Menila Kharel and Sujan Piya
The impact of climate change on water resources is alarming. Increasing temperature is causing higher evaporation which causes extreme drying of lands leadin… Read More
2018-06-08 06:53
By Menila Kharel and Sujan Piya
The impact of climate change on water resources is alarming. Increasing temperature is causing higher evaporation which causes extreme drying of lands lead… Read More
2018-06-08 06:18
The inspiring story of Nara Bahadur Rawat
Far from the madding crowd, a man who has toiled his whole life lives a quiet life. An immigrant worker to India and now back to his dwelling at Jum… Read More
2018-06-08 06:18
Far from the madding crowd, a man who has toiled his whole life lives a quiet life. An immigrant worker to India and now back to his dwelling at Jumla, Nara Bahadur Rawat (47), is happy with… Read More
2018-06-01 11:45
Worldwide, floods are becoming more intense and unpredictable every year. Communities in developing countries face many barriers to protecting themselves, their homes and their livelihoods f… Read More
2018-05-29 09:51
In one of the parched hills of Kalikot District that lies in remote Karnali Region of Nepal, there is a small village called Tilagufa. The Tilagufa dwellers who live at edge of poverty are… Read More
2018-05-27 03:57
by Makfie Farah & Nusrat Anwar
It is the twenty first century and menstruation, a natural biological system, is still a matter of social taboo. Women and girls cannot open up about menst… Read More
2018-05-22 13:08
The Global Distributors Collective (GDC) facilitated an ecosystem event at the Skoll World Forum on 12 April dedicated to ‘innovations in last mile distribution’.
Event hosts Pra… Read More
2018-05-18 11:33
कालीकोटको तिलागूफा गाउँमा चाँé&helli…Read More
2018-05-16 10:51
Sustainable Energy for All Forum
Energy access for all: the WHAT followed by the HOW
Energy access has been recognized as a golden thread to enable other SDGs, with successful earmarks such… Read More
2018-05-03 09:21
Practical Action has recently initiated a discussion – involving staff from the head office and regional and our colleagues from country offices (RCOs) as well as Matt Haikin – o… Read More
2018-04-30 15:00
‘Dragon’s Den’ has been a very popular TV format where entrepreneurs get to pitch their ideas to potential investors, with versions of the show produced in nearly 30 countr… Read More
2018-04-22 01:11
Climate Change Adaptation- From NAPA to NAP
Gehendra B. Gurung
I assume by this time there is no need for defining and clarifying what climate change is. But yet there are ambiguities among… Read More
2018-04-13 09:25
This year on the International Women’s Day, I felt like sharing my personal story relating to “Menstruation”. Yes, we bleed! It is not comfortable!
Perhaps the most discomf… Read More
2018-04-12 19:06
Pollution must be brought under control and mankind’s population and consumption of resources must be steered towards a permanent and sustainable equilibrium. E.F Schumacher, Smal… Read More
2018-04-09 09:50
62nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 12-23 March 2018
Last month, I participated in arguably the largest global gathering on gender equality – the 62nd Commission on the Status… Read More
2018-04-06 14:58
Meet Shujit Sarkar, a 36 year old farmer from Bangladesh. Shujit is married to Shikha and they have four children.
Shujit earns his income by farming and selling fish fingerlings. He doesn… Read More
2018-04-05 10:01
Energy is one of the key indicators for development. Like other essential basic needs, a certain amount of energy is required for our survival. Depending on the context, livelihood patt… Read More
2018-04-04 12:20
I am a self-confessed twitter geek. I love twitter. I start my day with twitter. As soon as my eyes have focused after my alarm goes off and before I even have my first coffee I can&rsq&hell…Read More
2018-04-04 11:36
The flood preparedness capacity of communities and local governments in Kankai River basin has been increased in the period of last three years. The project has carried out different trainin… Read More
2018-03-28 14:01
Bangladesh is considered a role model in the world for its achievement in providing access to sanitation for all. Currently, more than 99% of people in Bangladesh use toilets. The positive p… Read More
2018-03-26 22:04
ICTs and data are increasingly being used for monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). MERL Tech London was an open place for practitioners, techies, researchers and decision ma… Read More
2018-03-26 06:29
“ All genuine learning comes through experience “John Dewey
I earned two degrees while working in Practical Action. I often boast it as one of my biggest achievements in Practica… Read More
2018-03-23 20:32
It was my first time to the United States and I was so excited about visiting US and participating in the UNCSW62. Before travelling, I almost told everyone close to me that I am going to t… Read More
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