The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of civil society organisations founded in 1990, dedicated to empowering and supporting people working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communications technologies (ICTs). We work to build 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.
APC's strength lies in the fact that we don't get excited about the internet for the internet's sake. We are committed activists who want to use it to make the world a better place.
We help people to get access to the internet where there is none or it is unaffordable, we help grassroots groups use the technology to develop their communities and further their rights, and we work to make sure that government policies related to information and communication serve the best interests of the general population, especially people living in the global south.
A diverse and grounded community
People-centred technology innovators and practitioners
A human rights and feminist network
Policy change actors
A bridge builder, connector and convener.
The APC vision
Our vision is for all people, particularly the marginalised, to use and shape the internet and digital technologies to create a just and sustainable world.
The APC mission
Our mission is to strengthen collective organising towards building a transformative movement to ensure that the internet and digital technologies enable social, gender and environmental justice for all people.
Our structure
APC programmes
Local Access Programme
Social and Environmental Justice Programme
Women's Rights Programme (WRP)
Safety for Voices initiative
APC council
Communications and network development
Communications
Network and membership development
Strategic leadership
Executive director
Director of operations
Operations and organisational development
Development and resource mobilization
Finance
People, systems and operations
Technical systems and support
Board of directors
Our values
- Local initiative and ownership
- Freedom of expression, communication and information
- Open content and open standards
- Free and open source software
- Social and gender equality
- Collaboration and partnership
- Inclusiveness and diversity
- Creativity and capacity building
- Democratic, accountable and transparent governance
- Appropriate and affordable ICT solutions
How we meet
As often as possible, we organise face-to-face member meetings and also public events dedicated to issues on which we work. To assure that these meetings are productive and pleasant for everyone, we have developed a Code of conduct and ground rules for APC meetings.
The big picture, year after year
If you want to gain a quick overview of APC for a given year visit the specific section of our website where you will find our annual reports.
Legal status
APC was founded in 1990, operating as a partner of the Tides Foundation until 1998. On 5 May 1998, APC incorporated as a California non-profit, public benefit corporation (number 2082086) and is a tax-exempt charity (number CT0248541) under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. APC operates as an international network, with a principle office in South Africa.
Consultative status to the United Nations
We are an active participant in high level international ICT policy discussions, and were granted category one consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1995.