The APC Vision: "A world in which all people have easy,equal and affordable access to the creative potential of ICTs to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies" The APC Mission: "The Association for Progressive Communications is a global network of civil society organisations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability." This mission statement was approved at the 1997 APC Council meeting in South Africa.

TECHNOLOGY: PRACTICE AND POLICY

APC's members were often the first providers of internet in their countries. Today, we continue to pioneer practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC is an international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and related concerns, in both policy and practice.

WORLD-WIDE MEMBERSHIP

APC has been operating as an international, membership-based organisation since 1990. Our strong mixture of Southern and Northern organisations, and their combined knowledge and experience of promoting and using ICTs at local, national and regional levels, differentiates our network and our work from many others. APC's value and uniqueness comes from the local perspectives and contact with grassroots organisations that we gain through contact with, and between, our members.

CONSULTATIVE STATUS TO THE UNITED NATIONS

APC is an active participant in high level international ICT policy discussions, and was granted Category One Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1995. Read more about APC's historic work with the United Nations.

HOW DOES THE APC NETWORK FUNCTION?

Governed by our members
Each APC member appoints two representatives to APC council - the body that sets APC strategic priorities every four years. The council elects an 8-person executive board. The EB works with staff to produce APC’s action plan and oversees and monitors implementation.

A virtual office
APC has a small staff team who develop APC programmes and projects and run the organisation from day-to-day. Each team member lives in a different country and communicates daily online.

Online working groups of people from the APC community (including partners we work with) are set up as needed to work together on different projects or campaigns

(Graphic: Matias Bervejillo for APC)

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The 2006/7 Executive Board members are:

ABOUT OUR WORK

For a detailed summary of our work, download our annual reports, which feature the achievements and challenges of APC and our members.