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{{About|Association for Progressive Communications||APC (disambiguation)}}

The '''Association for Progressive Communications''' ('''APC''') is an international network of organizations that was founded in 1990 to provide [[communication]] [[infrastructure]], including [[Internet]]-based applications, to groups and individuals who work for [[peace]], [[human rights]], [[Environmental movement|protection of the environment]], and [[sustainability]]. Pioneering the use of [[Information technology|ICTs]] for [[civil society]], especially in developing countries, APC were often the first providers of Internet in their member countries.

APC is a worldwide network of social activists who use the internet to make the world a better place. APC is both a network and an organisation. APC members are groups working in their own countries to advance the same mission as APC. APC has more than 59 members, mostly in Asia, Africa and Latina America, from five continents. This is a challenge and a strength, because members are at the two extremes of internet development (members in South Korea with incredible connectivity and members in rural Nigeria where they have to power computers using car batteries and solar power) and in between.<ref name="About APC">{{cite web| title=APC about|url= http://www.apc.org/en/about|quote =All people have easy and affordable access to a free and open internet to improve their lives and create a more just world.}}</ref>

{{toclimit|2}}

==History==
===Background and creation ===
APC was founded in 1990 by:<ref name="About APC"/><ref name = "P. W. book">{{cite book
| last = Willetts
| first = Peter
| title = Non-Governmental Organizations in World Politics: The Construction of Global Governance
| publisher = Routledge
| series = Global Institutions
| date = 2010
| url = https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1136848533
| isbn = 9781136848537 }}</ref>{{rp|224}}

* [[Institute for Global Communications]] (IGC), [[San Francisco]], USA
* [[GreenNet]], [[London]], United Kingdom
* IBASE, [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
* Nicarao, [[Managua]], Nicaragua
* [[Pegasus Networks]], [[Byron Bay, New South Wales|Byron Bay]], Australia
* [[Web Networks]], [[Toronto]], Canada
* NordNet, [[Sweden]]

The activists working with United Nations–sponsored data management NGO (IDOC) create a network of like-minded organisations working with information and alternative media. At this point they communicated mainly using fax and regular mail. People physically travelled around transporting and sharing databases of information and software on disks.<ref>{{cite journal
 |last         = Murphy
 |first        = Brian Martin
 |journal      = First Monday
 |volume       = 10
 |issue        = 5
 |title        = Interdoc: The first international non–governmental computer network
 |url          = http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1239/1159%20Interdoc
 |date         = 2005-05-02
 |quote        = In fact, the first informal agreement to create APC was reached at an Interdoc–sponsored conference during May of 1990 in Amsterdam. At the meeting seven existing bulletin boards agreed to amend their hardware and software creating a seamless transparent network based upon the UUCP protocol.
 |access-date  = 2015-10-11
 |archive-date = 2016-03-09
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160309054628/http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1239/1159%20Interdoc
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref>

In 1988, on the verge of APC creation, Mitra Ardron describes the central characteristic of the future APC user, present operations and the history of APC precedents: PeaceNet, EcoNet and GreenNet. He also expresses a common commitment to global communication available to everyone.<ref>{{cite conference
| first1 = Mitra
| last1 = Ardron
| first2 = Deborah L.
| last2 = Miller
| title = Why the Association for Progressive Communications is different
| book-title = 38th Annual Conference of the International Communications Association
| publisher = GreenNet and APC
| date = 1988-05-29
| location = New Orleans, Louisiana
| url = http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/APC_ICA_1988.pdf
| access-date = 2015-07-20
| quote = Our commitment is to truly global communication - communication available to the social inventors. the grassroots activists, and the organizational leaders creating a future that works for everyone.}}</ref><ref name="Mitra's archive">{{cite web
| title = Mitra Ardron's archive of early APC material
| url = http://www.mitra.biz/apchistory/index.html
| access-date = 2015-07-21
| quote = In 1987, together with Mark Graham of IGC, we co-founded the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) to spread our model of nationally operated non-profit networks to other countries.}}</ref>

===UN status===
Collaboration between APC and the United Nations began in 1992, in preparation for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), more popularly known as the [[Earth Summit]].<ref>{{cite web
| title=Enabling civil society participation in global policy-making: The APC and the United Nations
| url= http://www.apc.org/about/history/enabling-civil-society-policy-making
| last=O’Brien| first=Rory
| publisher=APC
| access-date=2015-07-20}}</ref> As APC had the only international, civil society communications network in existence at that time, the UNCED secretariat published their information in APC conferences. They had no other way of distributing information so economically and so effectively. (The UN itself began distributing information by electronic means many years later). 
Email links are set up between Cuba and APC networks. They call the Cuban servers three times a day to deliver and collect email.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Cuba: Internet o início de APC
| url=http://interred.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/cuba-e-a-internet-o-inicio-de-apc/
| last=Afonso| first=Carlos
| date = 2007-01-15
| access-date = 2015-07-20}}</ref>

The cooperation continues over the years. APC received consultative status to the UN with the several quadrennial reports submitted over the years.<ref>
{{cite web|title=United Nations Economic and Social Council Decisions 2012|url=https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/2012/dec%202012.218.pdf|access-date=2015-07-21| publisher=[[UN]]}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|title=United Nations Economic and Social Council Decisions 2008|url=https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/2008/decision%202008-225.pdf|access-date=2015-07-21 | publisher=[[UN]]}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|title=United Nations Economic and Social Council Decisions 2004|url=https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/2004/decision%202004-305.pdf|access-date=2015-07-21 | publisher=[[UN]]}}</ref> APC also cooperated with [[United Nations Development Programme]].<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Dialogue and Exchange Workshop Convened by UNDP & APC 
 |url=http://www.propoor-ict.net/content/view/21/1/ 
 |access-date=2015-07-28 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801091245/http://www.propoor-ict.net/content/view/21/1/ 
 |archive-date=2011-08-01 
}}</ref> APC actively participate in UN initiatives such as [[Millennium Development Goals]]. The studies of violence against women and ICTs in ten countries and how legislation or lack of it hinders or helps women were conducted and published as a part of [[Millennium Development Goals#Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women|promoting gender equality and empowering women]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Violence against women and ICTs: Reports from 10 countries|url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/10360/|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>

The APC Women's Networking Support Programme (APC - WNSP) co-coordinated a women's network to bring an NGO perspective to the UN Beijing +5 review. Official declarations promote ICT as a way of enhancing NGO participation in global media policy making. It also gives recommendations for women's portrayal, decision making and advocacy in media industry.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.womenaction.org/csw44/altrepeng.htm|title=Alternative Assessment of Women and Media based on NGO Reviews of Section J, Beijing Platform for Action|last=Shivdas|first=Meena M.|publisher=WomenAction2000 - CSW|access-date=2015-07-25|archive-date=2022-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401063848/http://www.womenaction.org/csw44/altrepeng.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Late 1990s===

APC made a significant impact in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean by providing civil society organisations with email and e-information using the Fidonet gateways.<ref>{{cite web|title=In the beginning there was FIDO....|url=http://old.gn.apc.org/anniversary/fido.html|access-date=2015-07-21|publisher=GreenNet|quote=Between 1990 and 1997, Internet 'gateways' using simple 'store-and-forward' technology called 'Fidonet**, provided in many cases, the only means of cheap, efficient electronic communications to thousands of individuals, NGOs, Academics, Researchers and quasi-governmental departments in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215529/http://old.gn.apc.org/anniversary/fido.html|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fidonet protocol was used because it is store-and-forward technology enabling people to compose and read email offline which is very important in the countries with the pour infrastructure (phone lines, electrical supply and hardware).

APC's African networks faced with the strong competition from commercial providers, held an Africa Strategy Development Meeting from February 8–11, 1997 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting attended 34 APC members and partner networks from all over Africa. The program areas, action framework and plan as well as women's program were discussed. A powerful statement from the meeting was published as The Holy Family Communiqué from African Electronic Communicators.<ref>{{cite conference|title=APC Africa Strategy Development Meeting report, Feb. 8-11, 1997, Johannesburg, South Africa|url=http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/14362/1/108358.pdf|publisher=IDRC, Ottawa, ON, Canada|date=1997|author=SANGONeT|access-date=2015-07-25|quote=However, without action on a number of issues, too many African people will be relegated to the role of passive spectator as the global information society takes off.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831223356/http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/14362/1/108358.pdf|archive-date=2013-08-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A legal threat to freedom of information online came from the company Biwater and involved APC member LabourNet, April 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=LabourNet Fights For Unions' Free Speech Rights|url=http://www.labournet.net/docks2/9805/ilwubi.htm|first=Marcy|last=Rein|newspaper=The Dispatcher, [[ILWU]]}}</ref> Thirteen APC members mirrored the threatened content.<ref>{{cite web|title=Internet Censorship Case Study: Biwater plc|last=Bailey|first=Chris|url=http://europe.rights.apc.org/cases/biwater.html|date=2000|access-date=2015-07-25|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181954/http://europe.rights.apc.org/cases/biwater.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000–2003===

2000 was a turning point for APC. The new vision statement drafted at an APC council meeting held in Piriapolis, Uruguay hosted by the Third World Institute ([[ITeM]]): "APC works to achieve a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of the internet to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies.".<ref>{{cite report|title= APC Annual Report - 2000|url=http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/APC_ar2001_EN.pdf|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

In May 2001, APC and partners started work on building a portal which collects training materials related to ICT for social change. This portal, named Itrain Online, is an entry point for finding the best computer training resources on the web for the social change and development.<ref>{{cite web|title=About this Initiative|url=http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/english/about.shtml|website=Itrainonline.org|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331004021/http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/english/about.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first APC Internet Rights Charter was published in three languages: English, French and Spanish.<ref>{{cite web|title=APC Internet Rights Charter |url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/5677/|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> The themes: internet access for all, freedom of expression and association, access to knowledge, shared learning and creation, privacy, governance and rights were addressed.

APC started Gender, Agriculture and Rural Development in the Information Society (GenARDIS)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genardis.apcwomen.org/en/frontpage|title=GenARDIS Website|website=Genardis.apcwomen.org|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318191937/http://genardis.apcwomen.org/en/frontpage|archive-date=18 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 2002. This project was launched to provide small grants for the agricultural initiatives by women. The access to new information and communication technologies affected rural men and women and improved agricultural production.<ref>{{cite web|title=GenARDIS 2002-2010: Small grants that made big changes for women in agriculture| url=http://www.eldis.org/go/home&id=57316&type=Document#.VbQPYvlVhBd|website=Eldis.org|date=2010|access-date=2015-07-25}}</ref>

The ICT policy handbook for beginners was published in 2003 together with a tri-lingual ICT policy training for civil society curriculum which includes a special section on advocacy for positive policy change.<ref>{{cite web|title=ICT Policy: A Beginner's Handbook|url=http://otp.unesco-ci.org/training-resource/resources-self-learning/ict-policy-beginners-handbook|publisher=APC|date=2003|access-date=2015-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119150408/http://otp.unesco-ci.org/training-resource/resources-self-learning/ict-policy-beginners-handbook|archive-date=2014-11-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>

APC stimulated multi-stakeholder dialogue as part of the Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) programme,<ref>{{cite web|title=Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa | url=http://www.apc.org/en/projects/accessibility/africa/catalysing-access-icts-africa-catia}}</ref> and trained 100 technology enthusiasts in Africa to set up community wireless networks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wireless Africa|url=http://www.apc.org/en/projects/wireless/africa/wireless-africa|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

===2004–2008===
[[Take Back The Tech!]], a 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (25 Nov - 10 Dec), started in 2006. This campaign engages information and communication technology in helping end gender-based violence.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Take Back The Tech|url=https://www.takebackthetech.net/about|website=Takebackthetech.net|date=30 September 2014 |access-date=2015-07-28}}</ref>

APC joined Internet Governance Forum for the first time in 2008. A statement to IGF open consultations was submitted before the third IGF supporting regional IGF meetings and giving suggestions about themes and content of the meeting in Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite report|title=APC statement to IGF Open Consultations|url=http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/documents/contributions/general-contribution/2008-1/341-apc-igfstatement-200802/file|website=Intgovforum.org|date=2008-02-26|access-date=2015-07-28|location=Geneva|format=pdf}}</ref>

The first edition of Global Information Society Watch was published, focused on citizen participation in ICT policy processes in the wake of the [[World Summit on the Information Society]]. These reports are accessible yearly and are a joint initiative with the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation [[Hivos]].<ref>{{cite web|title=GISWatch|url=http://www.giswatch.org/about|website=Giswatch.org|access-date=2015-07-28}}</ref>

The other activities included replication of the community wireless training developed in Africa in Latin America and the Caribbean, forming an eighteen-country network connecting indigenous communities, rural backwaters and impulsing university networking courses,<ref>{{cite web|title=Wireless LAC (TRICALCAR)|url=http://www.apc.org/en/projects/lac/wireless-lac-tricalcar|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-28}}</ref> the first Feminist Tech Exchange, training people from 680 organisations in technology for social change and ICT policy from 2004-2008,<ref>{{cite report|title=APC Progress Report 2004-2008|url=http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/APCProgressReport2004-8_EN.pdf|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> organizing a press conference in Tunisia to address the host government's suppression of free speech in the wake of the second World Summit on the Information Society,<ref>{{cite web|title =First announcement and call for support CSIS Press release|date =2005-10-24 |url=http://www.iris.sgdg.org/actions/smsi/hr-wsis/csis-pr-241005-en.pdf|website=Iris.sgdg.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> launching [[GenderIT.org]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genderit.org/|title=GenderIT.org - Changing the way you see ICT|website=Genderit.org}}</ref>

=== 2009–2012 strategic plan and progress===
APC priorities for 2009–2012 period were: advocate for affordable internet for all, make technology work to sustain environment, use emerging technology for social change, build collaborative open online space, secure and defend internet rights and improve internet and other governance.<ref>{{cite report|title=APC's Strategic Action Plan 2009-2012|url=http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/APC_ActionPlan2009_OverviewEN.pdf|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>

The strategic plan was realized by<ref>{{cite report|title=APC Progress Report 2009-2012|url=http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/APC_ProgressReport20092012.pdf}}</ref>
* launching Internet Rights and Human Rights project,<ref>{{cite web|title=Connecting your rights: Internet rights are economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs)|url=http://www.apc.org/en/projects/internet-rights-are-human-rights|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref> 
* starting research on the real lived experiences of women around the internet and sexuality,<ref>{{cite web|title=EROTICS|url=http://erotics.apc.org|website=Erotics.apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref> 
* publishing [[Global Information Society Watch]]: 2010 addressed the pressing issues of [[ICTs]] and [[climate change]] and [[e-waste]], a dedicated edition on a defence of human rights and women's rights workers working online, GISWatch 2012 focused on the Internet and corruption,<ref>{{cite web
|title=GISWatch 2012: the internet and corruption|url=http://giswatch.org/2012-internet-and-corruption-online|website=Giswatch.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> as well as 2 updates to GISWatch 2011: Update 1<ref>{{cite web|title=GISWatch 2011 Update I|url=http://www.giswatch.org/2011-update-i-internet-rights-and-democratisation|website=Giswatch.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> and Update II,<ref>{{cite web|title=GISWatch 2011 Update II|url=http://www.giswatch.org/2011-update-ii-internet-rights-and-democratisation|website=Giswatch.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>
* designing a manual called "Communicating research for influence: Strategies and challenges for bringing about change" based on their success stories and challenges in communicating research for influence,<ref>{{cite web|title=Communicating Research for Influence|url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/15165/|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>  
* developing a practical guide to sustainable IT. It offers a detailed, "hands-on" introduction to thinking about sustainable computing holistically; starting with the choices you make when buying technology, through to the software and peripherals you use, how you store and work with information, manage your security, save power, and maintain and dispose of your old hardware.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mobbs|first=Paul|title=A practical guide to sustainable IT|url=https://www.apc.org/en/node/14936/|website=Apc.org|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>

The Dominican government chooses APC's [[Gender Evaluation Methodology]] (GEM) as a tool to design and evaluate their ICT policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dominican Republic guarantees women's equality in technology initiatives and policies across the country using APC GEM|url=http://www.genderevaluation.net/mygem/?q=news/dominican_republic_guarantees_women039s_equality_t|website=Genderevaluation.net|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820032923/http://genderevaluation.net/mygem/?q=news%2Fdominican_republic_guarantees_women039s_equality_t|archive-date=20 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The eleventh face-to-face APC council meeting is held on Panglao Island in the Philippines, hosted by the [[Foundation for Media Alternatives]]. Over one hundred communications activists also attend a Networking and Learning Forum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nlf.apc.org/|title=APC Networking and Learning Forum - Home|website=nlf.apc.org|access-date=2011-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320022226/http://nlf.apc.org/|archive-date=2018-03-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> to strategise for an open, fair and sustainable internet.

=== 2013–2016 strategic plan and progress===

The second strategic plan was released defining five priorities for 2013–2016: securing and defending internet access and rights, fostering good internet governance, strengthening use and development of transformative technology, ending technology-based violence against women and girls and strengthening APC community networks.<ref>{{cite web|title=APC Strategic Priorities 2013–2016|url=http://www.apc.org/en/about/strategic-priorities-2013-16|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>

The realization of this plan included the following:
* [[Global Information Society Watch]] was published on communication rights ten years after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).<ref>{{cite web|title=Communication rights ten years after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): Civil society perceptions|url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/18482|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>
* APC co-organised the second (2014) and third (2015) editions of the African School on Internet Governance, with graduates from more than 15 African countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=AFRICAN SCHOOL ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE|url=http://african-ig-school.events.apc.org/|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-10-15}}</ref>

==Structure==
APC is governed by the board of directors which include an executive director, a chair, a vice-chair, a treasurer and any other officers elected by APC council. The executive officer is a past board member and all other officers are elected for a three-year term during APC council meeting. The council is made up of the two representatives from each member organization and it is a secondary governing body that meets every three years. Besides, electing the board officers, it also sets strategic priorities.<ref>{{cite web|title = Governance|url=https://www.apc.org/en/about/governance|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>

APC board 2014–2016 was elected in Barcelona:<ref>{{cite web|title = Board of directors|url=https://www.apc.org/en/about/people/board|website=Apc.org|access-date=2015-07-29}}</ref>

* Julián Casabuenas, Colnodo, Colombia (Chair)
* Valentina Pelizzer, OWPSEE, Bosnia-Herzegovina (Vice-chair)
* Liz Probert, GreenNet, United Kingdom (Secretary)
* Osama Manzar, Digital Empowerment Foundation, India (Treasurer)
* John Dada, Fantsuam Foundation, Nigeria
* Lillian Nalwoga, CIPESA, Uganda
* Chim Manavy, Open Institute, Cambodia
* Anriette Esterhuysen, APC, South Africa

==Membership==
{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

[[File:APC World Map2015.png|thumb|500px|Association for Progressive Communications members]]

===North America===
* [[Alternatives | Alternatives, Action and Communication Network for International Development]], Canada
* [[Institute for Global Communications]] (IGC), United States of America
* [[LaborNet]], United States of America
* [[LaNeta]], Mexico
* [[Web Networks]], Canada
* [[May First/People Link]], United States of America

===Latin America and the Caribbean===
* [[CEPES]], Peru
* [[Colnodo]], Colombia
* [[Fundación Escuela Latinoamericana de Redes]] (EsLaRed), Venezuela
* [[ITeM|Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM)]], Uruguay
* [[NODO TAU]], Argentina
* RITS (Information Network for the Third Sector), Brazil
* [[FUNREDES|Networks & Development Foundation - FUNREDES]], Dominican Republic
* [[Wamani]], Argentina
* [[Núcleo de Pesquisas, Estudos e Formação (Nupef)]], Brazil
* [[ONG Derechos Digitales]], Chile
* [[Sulá Batsú]], Costa Rica
* [[Asociación Trinidad Comunicación, Cultura y Desarrollo]], Paraguay

===Europe===
* [[BlueLink Information Network]], Bulgaria
* [[Computer Aid International]], United Kingdom
* [[GreenNet]], United Kingdom
* [[Green Spider]], Hungary
* [[Metamorphosis Foundation]], Macedonia
* [[OWPSEE]], Bosnia-Herzegovina
* [[Pangea.org]], Spain
* [[StrawberryNet]], Romania
* [[ZaMirNet]], Croatia
* [[ComLink, Germany]] (See [[:de:CL-Netz]] for German article)

===Africa===
* [[ArabDev]], Egypt
* [[Fantsuam Foundation]], Nigeria
* [https://alin.net/ Arid Lands Information Network] (East Africa), Kenya
* [[Community Education Computer Society]] (CECS), South Africa
* [[SANGONeT]], South Africa
* [[Ungana-Afrika]], South Africa
* [[Women'sNet]], South Africa
* [[WOUGNET]] - Women of Uganda Network, Uganda
* [[AZUR Développement]], Republic of the Congo
* [[Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)]], Kenya
* [[Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)]], Uganda

===Asia-Pacific===
* [[Bytes for All.org]], South Asia
* [[Foundation for Media Alternatives]] (FMA), Philippines
* [[JCA-NET]], Japan
* [[JCafe]], Japan
* [[Korean Progressive Network Center]] (Jinbonet), South Korea
* [[Open Institute of Cambodia]], Cambodia
* WomensHub, Philippines
* [[Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES)]] - Bangladesh 
* [[Voice bangladesh|Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)]], Bangladesh
* [[Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)]], India
* Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE), India

==Actions==
===Gender evaluation methodology (GEM)===
The [[Gender Evaluation Methodology]] is an evaluation methodology that integrates a [[gender analysis]] into evaluations of initiatives that use information and communications technologies (ICTs) for social change. It is an evaluation tool for determining whether ICTs are really improving or worsening women’s lives and gender relations, as well as for promoting positive change at the individual, institutional, community and broader social levels. It was first developed in 2002 and was tried and tested by thirty community-based organisations. Since then hundreds of people have become involved in GEM's development including people who developed the tool, who train in how to use GEM, who are adapting GEM to increase its applicability to rural ICT4D projects, telecentres, software localisation and ICT policy advocacy and who are now offering GEM evaluations on a consultancy basis. The GEM manual was written in English and has been translated into French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Arabic).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/2835/|title=Gender Evaluation Methodology for Internet and ICTs: A learning tool for change and empowerment - Association for Progressive Communications|website=Apc.org}}</ref> GEM was developed by the APC Women's Rights Programme (APC WRP<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apcwomen.org|title=APC Women's Networking Support Programme|website=Apcwomen.org|access-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002075532/http://www.apcwomen.org/|archive-date=2 October 2009}}</ref>

===Global Information Society Watch===
Global Information Society Watch is an annual report co-produced by APC and [[Hivos]], a Dutch organization for development, which looks at the progress being made in creating an inclusive [[information society]] worldwide (particularly in implementing [[World Summit on the Information Society]] goals), encourages critical debate and strengthens networking and advocacy for a just, inclusive information society. The country reports are easy to read and offer a quick insight into a country situation. Contributors are primarily from civil society organisations active in ICT issues in their countries. Themes covered include environment and ICTs, human rights and the internet and internet infrastructure. There is a Giswatch book website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giswatch.org|title=Where are we watching? - GISWatch|website=Giswatch.org}}</ref>

GISWatch editions by year:
*GIS Watch 2019 - Artificial intelligence: human rights, social justice and development
*GISWatch 2018 - Community networks
*[[commons:File:Global Information Society Watch 2017 - National and Regional Internet Governance Forum Initiatives (NRIs).pdf|GISWatch 2017 - National and Regional Internet Governance Forum Initiatives (NRIs)]]
*[[commons:File:Global Information Society Watch 2017 Special Issue - Internet governance from the edges - National and regional IGFs in their own words.pdf|GISWatch 2017 Special Issue - Internet governance from the edges - National and regional IGFs in their own words]]
* [[commons:File:Global Information Society Watch 2017 Special Issue - Unshackling expression - A study on laws criminalising expression online in Asia.pdf|GISWatch 2017 Special Issue - Unshackling expression - A study on laws criminalising expression online in Asia]]
* [[commons:File:Global_Information_Society_Watch_2016_-_Economic,_Social_and_Cultural_Rights_and_the_Internet.pdf|GISWatch 2016 - Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Internet]]
* [[commons:File:Global_Information_Society_Watch_2015_-_Sexual_Rights_and_the_Internet.pdf|GISWatch 2015 - Sexual Rights and the Internet]]
* [[commons:File:GISwatch_2014_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2014 - Communications surveillance in the digital age]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2013_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2013 - Women's rights, gender and ICTs]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2012_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2012 - The internet and corruption]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2011_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2011 - Internet rights and democratisation]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2010_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2010 - ICTs and Environmental Sustainability]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2009_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2009 - Access to Online Information and Knowledge]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2008_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2008 - Access to Infrastructure]]
* [[commons:File:GISWatch_2007_PDF.pdf|GISWatch 2007 - Participation]]

===ActionApps===
ActionApps offer a low cost solution for content sharing that both increases the functionality of [[Non-profit organization|not-for-profit]] and [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] [[website]]s, and facilitates the creation of [[Web portal|portal]]s sites so as to improve the visibility of [[civil society]] information. They are driven by [[free software]]. ActionApps were first developed by APC and released to the free and open source software community. Development continues strongly in South America.

==Evaluations, awards and criticism==
===FLOSS===
APC is awarding Chris Nicol<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apc.org/en/node/1786|title=APC Chris Nicol FLOSS Prize - Association for Progressive Communications|website=Apc.org}}</ref> free/libre open source software award (FLOSS or FOSS). The criteria and 2014 and 2007 winners are published.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nominate a free software initiative for the Chris Nicol FLOSS Prize!|url=https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/nominate-a-free-software-initiative-for-the-chris-nicol-floss-prize|date=2014-05-03|access-date=2015-09-07}}</ref>

===Awards to people===
[[File:Anriette Esterhuysen 01.JPG|thumb|Anriette Esterhuysen at Stockholm Internet Forum 2014]]
* Karen Banks and the APC Women's Networking Support Programme are awarded the Anita Borg Prize for Social Impact (2004).<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Social Impact ABIE Award Winner|url=http://anitaborg.org/about/who-we-are/karen-banks/|access-date=2015-07-25|publisher=[[Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology]]}}</ref>
* Valeria Betancourt, Communications and Information Policy Programme manager, wins LACNIC's Outstanding Achievement Award, honouring internet leaders in the LAC region <ref>{{cite web|title=LACNIC HONORS TEN LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN INTERNET LEADERS|url=http://www.lacnic.net/en/web/anuncios/2012-trayectoria-premiados|website=Lacnic.net|date=2012-10-31|access-date=2015-09-07}}</ref>
* APC's Executive Director Anriette Esterhuysen and Finance Manager Karen Banks are inducted into the [[Internet Society|ISOC]]'s Internet Hall of Fame (2013) <ref>{{cite web|title=Internet Hall of Fame Announces 2013 Inductees|url=http://www.internethalloffame.org/blog/2013/06/26/internet-hall-fame-announces-2013-inductees|date=2013-06-26|access-date=2015-09-07|publisher=[[Internet Society]]}}</ref>
* APC's Executive Director Anriette Esterhuysen and APC were awarded the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]'s 2015 Pioneer Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=EFF Announces 2015 Pioneer Award Winners: Caspar Bowden, Citizen Lab, Anriette Esterhuysen and the Association for Progressive Communications, and Kathy Sierra|url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/eff-announces-2015-pioneer-award-winners-caspar-bowden-citizen-lab-anriette|date=2015-08-26|access-date=2015-09-15|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation|EFF]]}}</ref>

===Awards for programs===
* GISWatch wins WSIS Project Prize from the ITU<ref>{{cite web|title=GISWatch wins WSIS Prize 2012|url=http://groups.itu.int/stocktaking/WSISProjectPrizes2012.aspx|quote=The Association for Progressive Communications (South Africa/international) with the project Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) in category C1: The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development|website=Groups.itu.int|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>
* Take Back the Tech! (South Africa) won GEM Award 2014 in category 6: Efforts to Reduce Threats Online and Building Women's Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs.<ref>{{cite web|title = GEM 2014 Winners |url=http://www.itu.int/en/action/women/gem/Pages/winners.aspx|access-date=2015-07-28|quote= TBTT is a collaborative campaign that accompanies the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (25 November-10 December) to harness ICTs to end violence against women. The campaign calls on all ICT users – especially women and girls – to take control of technology and strategically use any ICT platform at hand (mobile phones, instant messengers, blogs, websites, digital cameras, email, podcasts and more) as part of their activism against gender-based violence.}}</ref>

===2013 DDoS Attack===
Beginning at 10.15 BST on Thursday 1 August 2013 GreenNet, and consequently APC, suffered an extensive [[Denial of service attack|DDoS attack]]. The attack was later described as a "DNS reflection attack" also known as a [[Denial of service attack#Reflected .2F Spoofed attack|spoofed attack]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Zimbabweans Hit By Cyber Attacks During Election|url=http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/08/07/0315207/zimbabweans-hit-by-cyber-attacks-during-election|date=2013-08-07|publisher=SlashdotMedia}}</ref> Several sources linked the attack to the [[Zimbabwean general election, 2013|Zimbabwe Elections]], held a day earlier.<ref>{{cite news|title=Zimbabwe election hit by hacking and DDoS attacks|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2287433/zimbabwe-election-hit-by-hacking-and-ddos-attacks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810014443/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2287433/zimbabwe-election-hit-by-hacking-and-ddos-attacks|url-status=unfit|archive-date=August 10, 2013|date=2013-08-07|publisher=The Inquirer|last=Orion|first=Egan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Zimbabwe's Presidential Election Accompanied by Cyberattacks|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Zimbabwe-s-Presidential-Election-Accompanied-by-Cyberattacks-373758.shtml|publisher=Softpedia|last=Kovacs|first=Eduard|date=2013-08-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cyber Attacks Strike Zimbabweans Around Controversial Election|url=http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/zimbabwe-election-cyber-attacks-123938|date=2013-08-06|last=Brewster|first=Thomas|publisher=TechWeek Europe}}</ref> GreenNet's services were not fully operational again until 10.30 BST on Thursday 7 August. On the 9th of August there was a second attack, which, while affecting some systems, allowed GreenNet to discover the site which was being targeted.<ref>{{cite web|title=GreenNet service update 9 August 2013|url=http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/greennet-l/2013-August/000122.html|date=2013-08-09|publisher=GreenNet}}</ref>  In October 2013, the target was revealed to be the site of British investigative reporter [[Andrew Jennings]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The Journalist|publisher=[[National Union of Journalists]]|location=London|date=October–November 2013|pages=14–16|first=Tim|last=Dawson|title=Brand new gag: the hidden war on press freedom|url=http://newmodeljournalism.com/2013/10/brand-new-gag-the-hidden-war-on-press-freedom/|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=30 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330065318/http://newmodeljournalism.com/2013/10/brand-new-gag-the-hidden-war-on-press-freedom/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==

* {{annotated link|Geekcorps}}
* {{annotated link|NetCorps}}
* {{annotated link|Kofi Annan#United Nations Information Technology Service .28UNITeS.29}}
* {{annotated link|OGAS}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.apc.org/ The Association for Progressive Communications] (English, French, Spanish and Portuguese)
* [http://www.idrc.ca/  International Development Research Centre]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Association For Progressive Communications}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 1990]]
[[Category:Information technology organizations]]
[[Category:Privacy organizations]]