About Us

Our Mission

Aptivate believes in the power of knowledge and communication to alleviate poverty, suffering and conflict, and in the right of every individual to inform and be informed.

We are dedicated to developing ICT services that facilitate communication for unconnected communities, empowering ordinary people across the developing world to improve their lives.

Our Ethical Policy

Aptivate's ethical policy exists to ensure we stay true to our mission. Every project we undertake should help us achieve our goals. Sometimes it is necessary to turn down a project or proposal because we feel that it does not fit into our ethical framework or does not advance our mission. We evaluate proposals against our ethical policy, and our staff collectively decide on whether the organisation should pursue them.

Our Environmental Policy

Climate change already affects the livelihoods of many people across the developing world, often the poorest and most vulnerable. Organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have called for significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and other polluting activities to avert potentially catastrophic consequences.

We believe that climate change must considered when evaluating activities related to development. While most human activities involve some level of environmental impact, it is necessary to consider this against the perceived benefits of an activity, reduce impact where possible and find alternatives if necessary.

We are committed to reduce our own environmental impact by:

  • using alternatives to travel, such as conferencing technology;
  • using alternative means of transport to short-haul flights;
  • shutting down IT systems when not in use;
  • investigating ways to mitigate the pollution generated by the manufacture, running and disposal of IT equipment;
  • recycling or re-using all possible office consumables;
  • engaging with other organisations on the issue of climate change.

What do we do?

We are an NGO and not-for-profit organisation that provides IT services for international development. We work on both grant funded projects and direct partnerships with NGOs.

  • We collaborate with NGOs to strengthen the use of IT in their programmes.
  • We offer impartial advice on strategy, policy, implementation and procurement.
  • We build robust, accessible and usable software, mobile and web services.
  • We are experts in low-bandwidth and appropriate technologies.
  • We are leaders in the field of bandwidth management, improving communications networks.

How do we do it?

We bring together best practice from the commercial software sector and the international development sector:

  • Communication and Collaboration: we involve end-users at all stages.
  • Simplicity: we believe that IT is about people first, then process, and technology last.
  • Appropriate Technology: we consider the intended environmental, cultural and economic context.
  • Usability: we focus on the ease with which a user can employ a tool to achieve a goal.
  • Agile Methodologies: we learn from users as they identify their priorities, then work iteratively and with regular feedback to ensure participatory development.

What do People Say?

We have an outstanding track record. Read our client testimonials.

The UNFAO and WHO believe that Aptivate offers “thoughtful solutions to the root of the problem” and that our “approach is both highly effective and refreshing.”

From designing and building web services, developing office systems and providing advice to our training programmes and in-country projects with end-users, Aptivate has one objective: to ensure that IT assists international development.