NinthBridge serves U.S. and European-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work internationally and with in-country NGOs in developing countries. We also serve the philanthropic and government entities that fund nonprofits by improving the technological capabilities and performance of their grantees.

Our knowledge of the challenges faced by NGOs and other agencies working in the field comes from many years of supporting the needs of EngenderHealth’s offices in over thirty countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America; our existing relationships with NGOs in the field, some of whom are already NinthBridge technology support clients, and the technology planning work conducted with US- or UK-based headquarters, in which the lack of technology support and staff training resources for the field is consistently cited as a fundamental operational problem. We understand that, generally speaking:

• Agencies working developing countries have few local options for support. Private vendors often don’t exist. Those that do are costly or unreliable, or have little comprehension of the mission orientation and unique needs of nonprofit agencies;

• Small offices typically don’t have the resources or the needs to hire a dedicated tech staff person, and thus must rely on the initiative and knowledge of its program or administrative staff to manage the office’s technology;

• All too often staff are significantly underutilized, for they have not been adequately trained to use the tech tools available to them.

• Field offices face chronic problems, including viruses, power fluctuations and cut-offs, lack of proper data backup, pirated software, poor internet connectivity and lack of a coordinated technology plan;

• The lack of reliable technology and telecommunications infrastructure in many developing world countries calls for redundant, creative solutions that provide options for communication and connectivity when primary systems fail;

• Foundations and government missions face a unique set of problems, including field offices that are typical unable to analyze the tech needs and requests of local grantees, leaving US based offices lacking informed assessments of problems or needs. There is often a reluctance to make consider tech investments for grantees for lack of the means to support the investment in an ongoing manner.

In response to these conditions, we offer both one-time setup and ongoing technology support for organizations working internationally, with an emphasis on connectivity and support issues in developing countries and remote locations.

Because our field-based staff live and work in the communities they serve, they understand the challenges and realities of implementing technology solutions in their regions. Thus, our international work focuses on the needs and circumstances of specific locations and on appropriate, innovative, cost-effective solutions that work.