Empowering CSOs and women

APC's vision is of a world in which all people have equal and affordable access to the creative potential of ICTs to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. (APC vision statement, November 2001)

Two APC programmes focus specifically on ICT policies and 'internet rights': Communications and Information Policy (CIPP) and Women's Networking Support (WNSP). The overall goal of CIPP is to ensure that the needs of civil society are addressed in ICT policy and are supported in practice through active CSO participation in policy and implementation processes.

Incorporating a gender perspective is integral to APC's work. This approach is led by the APC WNSP and is informed by the recognition of unequal power relations between women and men, north and south, rich and poor, urban and rural, connected and unconnected, within and between countries.

Through training, participatory research, evaluation, and advocacy in the area of gender and information technology, the APC WNSP responds to these inequalities and offer opportunities to women from many regions of the world.

The APC recognises that ICTs on their own cannot create gender equality, or end poverty, but we believe that they can be tools for social action and positive social change.