Practical Action Publishing was established in 1974 with a mission to disseminate ideas that challenge poverty and injustice. They publish cutting-edge research, practitioner insights, policy perspectives and technical guidance across disciplines including climate resilience, agriculture, gender, water, energy, social development and humanitarian response. Through journals, books, manuals and downloadable resources, the team works to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring knowledge travels across borders and disciplines.

For half a century, Practical Action Publishing has been part of the development studies landscape, amplifying the voices of practitioners and communities worldwide. As an independent, not-for-profit company, it has focused on making knowledge accessible and relevant: from grassroots practice to international policy debates.

Over that time, their portfolio has grown to more than 2,000 books and 3,000 journal articles. They’ve strengthened their digital publishing capacity and expanded open-access offerings, making high-quality development knowledge freely available where it is most needed. In 2019, Practical Action Publishing integrated Health Books International and Practical Answers into its operations, increasing capacity to distribute low-cost medical textbooks and free technical ‘how-to’ resources to communities worldwide.

Head of Publishing Andrea Johnson describes their approach as highly collaborative: “We work closely with organisations and researchers to make sure our content is practical and genuinely useful.”

Their materials range from practical manuals, academic texts and three flagship journals – Enterprise Development & Microfinance, Waterlines, and Food Chain. All resources undergo peer review by subject experts to ensure quality and relevance for a wide readership.

Sustainability is also a priority. Books are printed on responsibly sourced paper, and the company partners with local print-on-demand services worldwide to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. “And it’s a model that has the additional advantage of enabling us to reach regions and communities that have traditionally proved to be difficult or too expensive to deliver to,” Andrea Johnson explains.

Practical Action Publishing has always taken a mission-first approach. As an independent, not-for-profit publisher, it prioritises ideas and voices that might otherwise be overlooked, particularly those led by practitioners and communities themselves. Authors often describe the relationship as unusually personal: a collaborative process where every contribution is valued and supported.

This commitment extends to accessibility. Books are published quickly, in multiple languages and formats, and priced to ensure they can be used by practitioners, students and policymakers worldwide. “It’s about making knowledge truly usable, not just for academics, but for people on the ground,” says Andrea Johnson.

Recent titles reflect this breadth, covering themes such as women’s roles in farming, the experiences of Syrian refugees with disabilities, human-made disasters, immigrant money clubs and community-managed water systems.

One example of Practical Action Publishing’s reach is the recent open-access release of Robert Chambers’ complete works. With support from the Institute of Development Studies and a global community of readers through crowdfunding, the full collection of ebooks by the internationally renowned development thinker was made freely available to read, download and share.

Chambers’ pioneering ideas on participation, power and poverty have shaped development thinking for decades. Making his collection open access is a step toward ensuring that his insights and reflections are available to researchers, students and practitioners everywhere – regardless of resources or geography.

Authors and collaborators consistently highlight the publisher’s values and approach. In a recent anniversary video, author Linda Jones reflected that while “some of the resources published by Practical Action are written by academics, but much of the writing is done by development practitioners; those who have experience on the ground, and those who are both from the ‘north’ and the ‘south’.”

Duncan Green described Practical Action Publishing as “committed and efficient, and on the right side of history.” Julie Zollmann explained that she chose to publish with them because their values were aligned with her own. For Peter Westoby, the publisher’s small, personal team brings “a sense of integrity,” leaving him reassured that they are working toward the same goals and mission.

For 50 years, Practical Action Publishing has been sharing bold, practical knowledge that helps address global development challenges. As they mark this milestone, the team continues to invite collaboration with researchers, practitioners and organisations who share their belief in knowledge as a force for change.

Practical Action Publishing welcomes proposals and partnerships, and institutions can add resources to their e-library collections.