Why focus on IT tools for the non-profit, non-governmental market?

Because it is the right thing to do!

The NGO sector is a dynamic and growing part of society and the economy, globally. Non-profits are motivated by public benefit rather than private revenue, they build social capital by mobilising volunteers and drawing together different parts of the community. NGOs challenge discrimination and exclusion, thus encouraging tolerance and supporting diversity.

NGOs deliver much-needed services for hard to reach populations, working with communities to identify their needs and configuring services to empower individuals. Where the legal framework permits, NGOs act as watchdogs on human rights and can be a counterweight to corporate power or government corruption. Non-profits help to provide a voice for disenfranchised groups and encourage public support for societies that are more just, equitable and inclusive.

All of this good stuff comes from the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of the individuals involved in the NGO world. Many non-profits are small and although they may specialise in developing human potential, they rarely devote valuable time to finding avant-garde technology tools.

Why open source?

The open source model is a perfect fit for the NGO environment, because it is built on the principles of cooperation, collaborative working and shared knowledge. Open source software is developed by technical specialists who freely offer their skills for mutual benefit. The open source community is extremely innovative - volunteers pool their expertise to respond to a specific query or user requirement, thus producing robust and creative solutions. The results of this collective effort are then made available for others to use, adapt and add value.

NGOs work on the basis that all individuals have the potential to contribute to society, regardless of age, race, religion, disability, sexuality or socio-economic status. They aim to dismantle the physical, economic and physical barriers to participation and may even have ethical recruitment, purchasing or procurement policies in place. But somehow, this approach is rarely applied to the type of software tools that they choose.

This all sounds very nice but why don't all NGOs already use open source software?

This is a good question. Perhaps a lack of knowledge about the range of software options available, or a belief that it would be too burdensome for staff to adopt and learn new tools. Sometimes there is a perceived difficulty in getting technical support, and misapprehension about compatibility or inter-operability with other programmes. TTTP can address all of these concerns.

The NGO sector tends to be really inventive in terms of campaigning ideas using very little money, but can be spectacularly poor at identifying software tools that would improve their efficiency. We know that change is not easy and helping under-resourced teams to adapt to new technology is a real challenge, but we also know that the NGO community could really benefit from using open source software, and firmly believe that it is worth the effort.

We are committed to this goal!