The organisation: A4A focuses on direct access for the poor in rural and peri-urban areas to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. It supports small and large scale water projects, initiated by local community-based organisations. The organisation is a strong proponent of appropriate technologies, helping develop promising low cost technologies in water exploration, treatment and storage.

The partnership: A stage 2 Akvo funder (€15,000), A4A has helped Akvo learn from its small projects team, so we can ensure our system provides the right information to make projects easier to match with funds.

The organisation: Arghyam is an Indian charitable foundation working in the water sector since 2005. Its mission is “Enough water, safe water ….. always and for all.” Arghyam seeks to support strategic and sustainable efforts in the water sector that address basic water needs for all citizens. It emphasises sustainability – environmental, financial, social and technical – as the key desirable outcomes in the projects it supports. Arghyam manages the India Water Portal, an open, inclusive, web-based platform for sharing water management knowledge amongst practitioners and the general public.

The partnership: Akvo and Arghyam share knowledge and best-practice related to the provision of internet-based resources to support water and sanitation development. Arghyam has helped the Akvo team experience first-hand the benefits of deploying appropriate technologies in India and we work closely to support each other's promotion activities and expansion globally.

The organisation: FODRA (Foundation of Development Research and Action) was founded in 1994 as an ideologically, politically and religiously independent NGO committed to promoting and undertaking actions for sustainable development among people living in poverty. FODRA believes that there is tremendous potential among the underprivileged sections of the society. It plans, initiates and supports the development process to create a wide range of opportunities for the poor to develop their dormant skills. It drives self help programmes to drive concrete action plans that enable the poor to achieve flourishing quality of life and well being.

The partnership: FODRA was Akvo's first Indian NGO partner and has provided crucial insight and encouragement to the team as we refined the focus and elements that are Akvo today. Now a project partner in the Akvo Direct system, FODRA is using Akvo to match funds to projects and will be a key field partner for trialling new elements of the Really Simple Reporting system.

The organisation: The International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) is a non-profit foundation that specialises in information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool for development. IICD creates practical and sustainable solutions using both modern media (such as computers, Internet, email and multimedia) and traditional media (such as radio and television) to connect people and enable them to benefit from ICT, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Priority sectors include education, environment, governance, health and livelihoods (agriculture).

The partnership: IICD is identifying and introducing relevant projects to the Akvo matchmaking system and providing usability insight and feedback to the development team. Its executive director, Caroline Figueres, is a co-founder of Akvo and has provided invaluable support and guidance on our business plan and international network.

The organisation: Micro Water Facility (MWF) supports innovative, small-scale technologies for improving access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation in developing countries. It is a unique broker between parties that want to contribute towards realising the Millennium Development Goals. MWF advises businesspeople and project organisations on the appropriate strategy to be followed and acts as an intermediary in finding the right partners and appropriate financiers.

The partnership: MWF has helped Akvo build its business case, providing specialist financial expertise, and helping us refine and present our business plan to appeal to funding partners.

The organisation: The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) is an independent body set up by the Dutch private and public sectors in the Netherlands to act as a national coordination and information centre for water-related issues abroad. Today it has 162 members. The principal aims of NWP are to harmonise the activities and initiatives of the Dutch water sector abroad and to promote Dutch expertise in water worldwide. NWP is the channel through which government bodies, NGOs, knowledge institutes and private organisations in the water sector share information on their activities and services.

The partnership: NWP ignited the Akvo phenomenon in autumn 2006 and has provided extensive financial and networking support to enable Akvo to research the sector, identify a focus for the project tools, and build partnerships with a wide range of organisations. Akvo shares it head office with NWP, with both organisations moving to The Hague in autumn 2008.

The organisation: Members of the NWP NGO Platform support the reduction of poverty and illness in those parts of the world that suffer from inadequate drinking water and sanitation. Platform members seek cooperation with other NWP members to develop effective programmes that contribute to realising the Millennium Development Goals. Members include Simavi, WASTE, PlanNederlands, SNV, PRACTICA Foundation, Aqua4All, ICCO and Amref.

The partnership: Akvo is aiming to become a member of the NGO Platform, and is proposing ways that its tools can be used by multiple partners in concert.

The organisation: The PRACTICA Foundation, founded in 2001, aims to facilitate research, development and commercial application of technology in the field of water and energy in developing countries. The choice for water and energy-related technology comes from an assessment that these are often prime movers in rural livelihoods and the conviction that there is still considerable scope to reduce cost and improve the quality of technologies in use.

The partnership: PRACTICA is helping to refine Akvo Direct and Akvo RSR to deliver effective project and fund matchmaking and simplified reporting. This includes identifying and introducing relevant projects to the matchmaking system and providing usability insight and feedback to the development team.

The organisation: Founded in 2003, RAIN (Rainwater Harvesting Implementation Network) is an international network that increases access to water for vulnerable sections of society in developing countries. Focusing in particular on women and children, it supports the collection and storage of rainwater in water tanks and wells. RAIN supports the construction of such rainwater harvesting systems at household and a communal level, including in public spaces such as schools, community centres and health centres. Today RAIN is broadening its scope to include the application of rainwater harvesting for income generating activities such as (drip) agriculture and livestock keeping.

The partnership: RAIN is helping to refine Akvo Direct and Akvo RSR to deliver effective project and fund matchmaking and simplified reporting. This includes identifying and introducing relevant projects to the matchmaking system and providing usability insight and feedback to the development team.

The organisation: Simavi stimulates and supports projects aimed at improving the health of the poorest populations of rural Africa and Asia, without regard to race, religion or political creed. It supports initiatives in the field of primary healthcare, with particular concern for water and sanitation. Simavi operates as an intermediary between people in developing countries and its support base in the Netherlands within an evolving social context. It was founded as an independent aid organization by two medical doctors in 1925. The goal then was to support the work of medical missionary staff, thereby helping to improve the healthcare for the local population in its colonies. The organisation has evolved since then in response to changing circumstances to become one of the Netherlands' most highly regarded development partners.

The partnership: Simavi is a second-stage financial investor in Akvo, and committed €10,000 in March 2008. It has since contributed some of Akvo's first field projects and continues to provide critical comment and assistance as we refine the Akvo Direct and RSR modules to meet the needs of field-based NGO staff and international development coordinators.

The organisation: The Association of Water Boards is a Dutch organisation that promotes the interests of water boards at a national and international level. ADD MORE.

The partnership: Akvo is being used by the Union of Waterboards as one element in its strategy to unlock expertise from Dutch waterboards to share local expertise on management of water resources for application in international contexts. It committed €10,000 during our stage 2 funding round in March 2008.

The organisation: WASTE advises on sustainable improvement of the urban environment. Its activities focus on low-income urban areas and develop, together with local residents, the tools and means for their own development. This enables them to improve their living conditions, the environment and to create employment as a sound economic base for their future. WASTE considers community participation to be both an aim of development and a tool for achieving the objectives of development projects. All projects should contribute to the aim that men and women, disadvantaged groups and communities, are able to decisively influence the events that affect their lives.

The partnership: WASTE is helping to refine Akvo Direct and Akvo RSR to deliver effective project and fund matchmaking and simplified reporting. It is also leading a process of content exchange for the Akvopedia, so both Akvo and WASTE extend open knowledge focused on sanitation.

The organisation: WECF (Women in Europe for a Common Future) is a network of women's and environmental organisations in 30 countries throughout Central Asia and Europe. WECF strives for a Healthy Environment for All. It harnesses women's potential to achieve a balanced in the environment, health and the economy. It implements solutions locally and influences policy internationally.

The partnership: WECF is helping to refine Akvo Direct and Akvo RSR to deliver effective project and fund matchmaking and simplified reporting. This includes identifying and introducing relevant projects to the matchmaking system and providing usability insight and feedback to the development team.