About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Can individuals join NetHope?

NetHope members are international NGOs operating in the developing world, not individuals. If you work for an organization that might be interested in joining NetHope, please see our Member Information page. If you are an individual who wants to get involved with NetHope, please see our Get Involved page.

How can I get involved?

Please contact us at: NetHope, Inc. P.O. Box 6704 McLean, VA. 22106-6704 USA Phone: (703) 388-2845 Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

How did NetHope start?

In March 2001, Ed Granger-Happ, then CIO of Save the Children, authored a paper entitled "Wiring the Global Village" that discussed two hypotheses: 1) International nonprofits could solve the connection problem better, faster, and cheaper if we did it together rather than reinventing the wheel as individual organizations; and 2) We would be in a better position to partner with corporate sponsors as a group rather than as individuals. Both have proved true. This paper was presented to Cisco's corporate philanthropy group an became the basis upon which NetHope was created.

How does my organization become a member of NetHope?

Information on becoming a member of NetHope can be found here.

How does NetHope help NGOs?

NetHope facilitates collaboration and joint projects among its members that focus on ways to best apply technology for connectivity and other solutions in developing parts of the world. NetHope attracts additional funding, technology resources and business consulting services to support projects from corporations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Accenture, Intel, Baker & McKenzie, and Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. Lastly, NetHope shares best practices with the public at large.

How is NetHope funded?

NetHope relies on funding and in-kind contributions from many sources including member dues, private sector and foundations, as well as donated time from members and experts from the private sector, academia and industry specialists.

Is NetHope accountable?

Yes. NetHope is a 501(c)(3) organization and files Form 990, Return of Organizations Exempt from Income Tax each year following the Internal Revenue Service's regulations. For reference, these forms are published on the NetHope site. In addition, NetHope regularly publishes organizational updates.

Is NetHope effective?

Yes. In addition to the examples outlined above, NetHope has, for instance, successfully:

• Deployed 135+ PDAs in Bangladesh to track Food Distribution and other programs,
• Installed a pilot network of 21 monitored satellite locations including an Internet Telephony trial, and
• Created Broadband solutions for fixed and mobile relief sites in disaster-affected regions of Iraq, Iran and Liberia.

Following the December 2004 tsunami, NetHope members began to receive reports about the enormity of the disaster and the urgent need to respond quickly and effectively. Through the teamwork of NetHope member charities operating across the globe and coordinating on the ground, the Network Relief Kit trial units were hand-delivered from the U.S. to the neediest sites to support relief workers.

Is NetHope working on disaster relief only?

NetHope members focus on Emergency Response, Humanitarian Development and Conservation. While much of the news coverage on NGOs focuses on disaster relief, NetHope works with its members on an ongoing basis to improve the connectivity through the use of technology. Some illustrative projects include:

• Installing satellite communication equipment for HIV/AIDS workers carrying out public health education programs in Uganda, particularly in remote rural areas inadequately served by land-based telecommunications infrastructure
• Installing DSL communications equipment allowing child sponsorship workers in Ethiopia to communicate with and track the progress of sponsored children
• Setting up satellite, routing, switching and wireless equipment in eight locations in Iraq to facilitate the distribution of food and medical supplies to civilian victims of the war
• Deploying satellite communications equipment at member field offices in Afghanistan to track refugees and provide reconstruction support
• Deploying Internet telephone applications worldwide to allow rapid voice, data and video communications to coordinate operations of NetHope members' field and regional offices
• Negotiating preferred vendor pricing that ensures members can easily implement cost-effective VSAT connectivity services that suit member agency-specific connectivity requirements.
• Developing ICT Skills Building Program that addresses the most critical ICT skills shortages in the humanitarian sector.

What are some of NetHope’s projects?

• NetHope develops and implements a NetworkReliefKit (NRK) which provides data and voice connectivity in a small, transportable suitcase allowing NGOs to quickly establish a short-term communications solution in the event of a disaster or emergency.
• NetHope tests and manages the deployment of communications infrastructure to provide member agencies with access to the Internet at remote project sites where relief and development operations are carried out. NetHope's support may include obtaining low-cost satellite, wireless and terrestrial communication facilities, and managing their deployment in developing countries where the absence or poor quality of conventional, land-based telecommunications infrastructure is an obstacle to carrying out members' humanitarian work.
• NetHope provides forums for member agencies to document and share their field experiences regarding the effectiveness of their telecommunication technology and to suggest ways to improve future delivery of services.
• NetHope's ICT Skills Building Program improves emergency response and enhances organizational effectiveness by strengthening crucial ICT skills.
• NetHope's Shared Services Program assists NGOs through both strategic cost management and capacity building, with the overall goal of standardizing and reducing back-office spending for program growth by deploying scalable technologies, processes, and standards.
• NetHope's Innovation for Development (I4D) Program works with members to design Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions that can be replicated across NetHope membership organizations. Focus areas for this initiative are: agriculture, healthcare, education, conservation and finance/commerce.

What is NetHope?

NetHope, which started in 2001, is a new-generation information technology collaboration of 31 leading international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) representing more than $30 billion (U.S.) of humanitarian development, emergency response, and conservation programs serving millions of beneficiaries in more than 180 countries. Through member collaboration and by facilitating public-private partnerships with major technology companies, foundations, and individuals, NetHope helps members use their technology investments to better serve people in the most remote areas of the world.

What makes NetHope unique from other NGOs?

NetHope is unique because of its innovative, collaborative business model. NetHope brings IT professionals from NGOs to share their technology resources and expertise and together, create the scale needed to reach and positively impact the more than 3 billion underserved people and communities in the most remote areas of the world.

Where does NetHope operate?

NetHope members operate in over 180 countries around the world. NetHope operates four regional chapters in: East Africa, West Africa, Sri Lanka and India. Future chapters will be launching in South Africa, Bangladesh and Panama. NetHope Headquarters are located in McLean, Virginia.

Which NGOs are involved with NetHope?

Currently NetHope membership consists of 31 international NGOs including: ActionAid, Ashoka, CARE, CHF, Christian Aid, ChildFund International, Children International, Catholic Relief Services, Concern Worldwide, FINCA, Family Health International, Heifer International, International Rescue Committee, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mercy Corps, Nature Conservancy, Opportunity International, Oxfam, PATH, Plan, Relief International, Save the Children, VSO, WaterAid, Wildlife Conservation Society, Winrock International, and World Vision. In addition, the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and Save the Children - UK are Federated Members.

Why do corporations support NetHope?

Corporations support NetHope because they see the multiplier effect; that is the ability to positively impact a large number of people and communities through a single point of contact. They see the value in NGOs working together to solve common needs through shared resources and expertise. NetHope can leverage its on-the-ground reach and experience to ensure efficient and effective deployment of resources.