Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development
Acted is a French international solidarity NGO delivering humanitarian aid, environmental programs and long-term development support in crisis-affected communities.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, commonly known as Acted, is a French international solidarity non-governmental organization headquartered in Paris. Founded in Afghanistan in 1993 by Marie-Pierre Caley and Frederic Roussel, it initially used mapping and territorial analysis to help local humanitarian actors understand needs and resources. The scale of the Afghan crisis subsequently led the organization to undertake direct humanitarian operations, including support for coal production near Kabul so that residents could obtain heating fuel and bakeries could resume production. Acted expanded from Afghanistan into Central Asia and then into a broad international network of humanitarian and development operations. Its work has covered emergency relief, food security, water and sanitation, shelter, refugee and displacement assistance, agricultural recovery, disaster preparedness, reconstruction, livelihoods, environmental protection and support for inclusive development. The organization has responded to conflicts, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, food crises and climate-related shocks in countries including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Iraq, Haiti, Chad, Sudan, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Niger, the Philippines, Nepal, Yemen, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Turkey, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Morocco, Libya and Pakistan. Acted describes its operating philosophy through the phrase “Think local, Act global.” The approach emphasizes contextual knowledge, local partnerships and the strengthening of existing community structures and capacities rather than applying a single model everywhere. Emergency programming is combined with longer-term stabilization and rehabilitation, allowing the organization to remain engaged after an immediate crisis has passed. The organization reported supporting 27 million people worldwide in 2023. Environmental sustainability became more prominent in Acted’s strategy from 2017 onward. The organization began integrating ecosystem protection and sustainable-development objectives into programs, while also assessing the environmental effects of its own operations, supply chain and emissions. In 2020 it introduced the 3ZERO strategy, focused on Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon and Zero Exclusion. Its environmental portfolio grew between 2021 and 2023, including work under the THRIVE initiative, which promotes collaborative approaches to desertification control and ecosystem restoration. Acted also operates or supports related initiatives. Its microfinance activities were separated from the core emergency and development organization in 2005 and developed into OXUS, a social-enterprise network serving people excluded from formal banking. In 2008, Acted founded Convergences, a multi-sector platform devoted to poverty reduction, social inclusion and climate action. Convergences organizes the World Forum and related regional events. Acted founded IMPACT Initiatives in 2010 to provide assessment, monitoring, research and capacity-building services for humanitarian and development decision-making. The organization is funded by institutional donors and partners including BHA, ECHO, CDCS and USAID, alongside other public and private sources. It has participated in international humanitarian networks and accountability initiatives, including the CHS Alliance, Start Fund, Alliance2015, VOICE, ICVA and Coordination SUD. Acted has also maintained compliance and reporting mechanisms, including a transparency line through which beneficiaries, partners and staff can raise concerns. Since 2011, it has held certification from Comité de la Charte du Don en Confiance, a French body concerned with nonprofit donor confidence and financial responsibility.
History
Acted was established in Afghanistan in 1993 by Marie-Pierre Caley and Frederic Roussel. Its first work involved mapping and territorial analysis intended to help humanitarian actors understand local needs and solidarity networks. The severity of the Afghan crisis moved the organization toward direct intervention. In and around Kabul, it supported the revival of coal mines with assistance from the World Food Programme, helping communities secure heating fuel and enabling bakeries to restart production. During the second half of the 1990s and the early 2000s, Acted broadened its geographic scope. It reached Tajikistan in 1996, the Republic of the Congo during the First Congo War in 1997, Uzbekistan in 1999 and Kyrgyzstan in 2000. It responded to Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua in 1998 and to the Kosovo conflict in 1999. By 2003, it had started work in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including assistance to displaced people in South Kivu. Operations in Haiti and Chad followed in 2004, including support for people affected by the Darfur conflict. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami prompted large-scale emergency and reconstruction work in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka in 2005. That year Acted also opened a coordination office in Jordan and responded to the Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan. Its activities then expanded across Sudan, Kenya, Lebanon, the West Bank, the Central African Republic, Uganda, Myanmar, Gaza and Somalia. The organization combined emergency food and shelter assistance with infrastructure, agricultural, water and recovery programs. From 2009 through 2016, Acted responded to food insecurity and public-health challenges in Zimbabwe, Niger, Mali and Senegal, while also supporting disaster preparedness in Vietnam and emergency relief in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. It developed programs in Libya, Jordan and Côte d’Ivoire in 2011, responded to typhoons in the Philippines and displacement in South Sudan in 2012 and 2013, and expanded its regional coordination capacity through an office in Bangkok. In 2015 it assisted communities affected by earthquakes in Nepal, the Yemeni civil war and insecurity in northern Nigeria. In 2016 it responded to Hurricane Matthew and the cholera crisis in Haiti and assisted people displaced by the Battle of Mosul in Iraq. The organization continued to expand in 2017 and afterward. It supported conflict-affected communities in eastern Ukraine, Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh, and Syrian refugees in Turkey. It responded to the Sulawesi earthquake in Indonesia in 2018 and to the Venezuelan displacement crisis in Colombia, water and sanitation needs in Burkina Faso, and inclusive development priorities in Tunisia in 2019. The first 3ZERO home opened in Manila in 2019. Acted then responded to the Beirut explosions in 2020 and began work in Ethiopia. In 2005, Acted separated its microfinance work from its humanitarian and development programs, creating the basis for OXUS. In 2008 it founded Convergences, a platform for discussion, advocacy and partnerships addressing poverty, exclusion and climate change. In 2010 it founded IMPACT Initiatives, which develops assessments, surveys, monitoring systems and organizational capacities to improve evidence-based decisions in humanitarian and development settings. Sustainable development and ecosystem protection became more systematically embedded in Acted’s work from 2017. The organization began measuring environmental effects from its activities and supply chain and launched programs linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2020 it formalized these priorities through the 3ZERO strategy: Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon and Zero Exclusion. Subsequent programs included THRIVE, which promotes ecosystem restoration and responses to desertification and climate change. In 2022 Acted responded to the war in Ukraine, drought in Ethiopia and flooding in Pakistan, and opened or supported 3ZERO-related facilities in Niger and Tajikistan. In 2023 it responded to major earthquakes and opened further 3ZERO homes in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
- 2020
3ZERO strategy is implemented
[1]Acted organizes its strategic direction around Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon and Zero Exclusion.
- 2011
Donor-confidence certification
[1]Acted receives certification from Comité de la Charte du Don en Confiance, reflecting its participation in a French nonprofit accountability framework.
- 2010
IMPACT Initiatives is founded
[1]The organization creates IMPACT Initiatives to support humanitarian and development actors with assessments, monitoring, research and capacity-building.
- 2008
Convergences is founded
[1]Acted establishes Convergences as a platform for reflection, mobilization and advocacy on poverty, exclusion, climate change and sustainable development.
- 2005
Microfinance activities become OXUS
[1]Acted separates its microfinance activities from its emergency and development programs, creating the foundation of the OXUS social-enterprise network.
- 1993
Acted is founded in Afghanistan
[1]Marie-Pierre Caley and Frederic Roussel establish the organization, initially focusing on mapping and territorial analysis before moving into direct humanitarian action.
Products and positioning
A locally grounded international humanitarian and development organization combining emergency relief, resilience-building, environmental action and evidence-based programming.
Humanitarian aid · 1993
Humanitarian emergency response
Acted provides rapid assistance after conflicts, earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and other emergencies. Depending on local conditions, responses may include food, water, sanitation, shelter, heating support, protection services, reconstruction assistance and help for displaced or refugee populations. The organization generally links immediate relief to stabilization and recovery so that communities can restore livelihoods and local services.
Development programs
Food security and livelihoods
These programs address hunger, agricultural disruption and the loss of income caused by conflict, disasters or environmental stress. Activities have included agricultural-system strengthening, support for food production, livelihood recovery and assistance to drought-affected populations. The work is designed around local capacities and aims to improve resilience rather than provide only short-term food aid.
Sustainability strategy · 2020
3ZERO
3ZERO is Acted’s strategic framework for pursuing Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon and Zero Exclusion. It connects humanitarian assistance with social inclusion, environmental responsibility and sustainable development. Associated activities include community facilities known as 3ZERO homes, climate-related programs and efforts to reduce the environmental impact of Acted’s own operations and supply chain.
Humanitarian research and assessment · 2010
IMPACT Initiatives
IMPACT Initiatives supports evidence-based humanitarian and development decisions through assessments, surveys, monitoring, evaluations, diagnostics and organizational capacity-building. It works directly with humanitarian actors and through inter-agency initiatives, producing information intended to improve program design, resource allocation and policy decisions.
Advocacy and convening · 2008
Convergences
Convergences is a platform founded by Acted to encourage dialogue and collaboration on poverty, exclusion, climate change and sustainable development. Its World Forum brings together nonprofit organizations, public institutions, companies, financial actors, researchers, innovators and citizen networks to exchange practices and develop partnerships.
Microfinance · 2005
OXUS
OXUS developed from Acted’s former microfinance operations after their separation from the NGO’s core humanitarian and development programs in 2005. It is described as a social-enterprise network providing financial services and livelihood support to people excluded from conventional banking.
Brand decisions
2020
Adopt the 3ZERO strategyStrategyBackground
Acted sought to connect poverty reduction and social inclusion with the growing need for climate action and environmental responsibility in humanitarian work.
Action taken
The organization implemented a framework centered on Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon and Zero Exclusion.
Aftermath
Environmental programs expanded, ecosystem-restoration work grew and Acted began measuring the environmental effects of its own activities and supply chain more systematically.
2005
Separate microfinance from humanitarian operationsStrategyBackground
Acted’s microfinance work had developed alongside its emergency and development activities, but required a distinct operating model focused on financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
Action taken
Acted separated the activity and launched OXUS as a social-enterprise network.
Aftermath
The separation allowed Acted to retain its humanitarian focus while OXUS pursued specialized microfinance activities.
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