Page last updated on
What is APC and who are its members?
APC is an organisation and a network of independent organisations and individuals. They include Member organisations, individual members and APC staff.
Who can join APC?
Organisations anywhere in the world can join the network, as long as they share the same mission as APC: to build strategic communities and initiatives to make meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability. APC members are organisations and individuals who use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to pursue this mission. Members have expertise in the strategic use of ICTs, whether as developers, advocates and policy makers, or in the areas of human rights protection, environmental sustainability, media and gender equality. Most advocate for free software, open and fairly governed internet resources, privacy, affordable access to ICTs, gender equality, and human rights online. They generally oppose the persecution of journalists and users who share digital content online, as well as other forms of persecution and censorship. It is absolutely crucial that APC members share common values. If you do not share these values, APC is probably not the right network for you.
New individual members must be nominated by an existing APC member or APC staff.
What are APC’s values?
APC is committed to working through:
-
Decentralised action
-
Sharing information and tools in the public domain
-
Having a strong base and orientation toward the global South
-
Creating and strengthening an international membership community for joint action and learning.
We value:
-
Local initiative and ownership
-
Freedom of expression, communication and information
-
Open content and open standards
-
Free and open source software
-
Social and gender equality
-
Collaboration and partnership
-
Inclusiveness and diversity
-
Creativity and capacity building
-
Democratic, accountable and transparent governance
-
Appropriate and affordable ICT solutions.
Why should my organisation join?
You will become part of a large community of like-minded colleagues with expertise in areas similar to your own. This means access to new ideas, project proposals, knowledge about collaborative and funding opportunities, policy-making forums and existing APC partnerships. You can also find new resources such as internal thematic discussion spaces, learning opportunities supported through the APC MLEF fund, online and face-to-face learning events and other useful tools.
Why should I join as an individual?
This interview with APC member Rolf Kleef offers some answers:
What areas of expertise does APC have?
ICT policy and advocacy, free and open source software (FOSS) development and promotion, internet-related rights, ICTs for development, women’s rights and gender dimensions of ICTs, ICTs and environmental sustainability, Web 2.0, strategic technology for activism and research, secure online communication (digital security), community networking and information commons (alternative licensing for sharing of online resources).
Will my organisation lose independence by joining APC?
No. All APC members are independent organisations that join the APC network because they benefit from new learning and opportunities and because they believe in partnerships. However, they are all fully independent in terms of status, financing, alliances, projects, and in other ways.
Who makes decisions in APC?
Our governance is largely collective. All members make fundamental decisions through the APC Council. which is comprises representatives from all APC organisational members, and the APC Executive Board. See more about how is APC governed.
What am I expected to do in APC?
If you represent a member organisation, you are expected to contribute to making decisions about the network (see Who makes decisions in APC?). All members are also expected to engage actively through sharing, discussion, collaboration and learning. Such sharing and collaboration makes APC strong. Only if you engage can you truly benefit from being part of APC. Members are also expected to take part in annual monitoring and evaluation survey on the implementation of APC’s strategic plan.
Does APC membership cost anything?
Yes. Annual fees are USD 300 and upward, depending on the size of the member organisation and whether it is a non-profit or a for-profit entity. Individual members pay between USD 50 and 100 per year, according to their choice.
For what are membership fees used?
Fees are returned back to members through the APC Membership Learning and Exchange Fund and through supporting members’ travel to events. All APC membership fees are pooled together and redistributed among members.
Do I have to speak English to be an APC member?
APC network must have a common language in order to communicate. And we use English as our working language. This is not a political decision and we would love to be able to use a real common 'neutral' language. However, English is the most common denominator making it possible for the biggest group of organisations to become members and communicate in APC. So yes, whoever from your organisation will be engaged in APC spaces must have a working knowledge of English. Within its possibilities, APC is committed to promoting multi-lingualism and linguistic and cultural diversity. Our website is in three languages and we try to translate our most important work into at least Spanish and French. The working language of our LAC network is Spanish.
Where can I learn more about what APC is doing?
Check out Members’ pages for their latest news and projects.
Learn about APC’s current projects.
Read about APC’s current strategic priorities that list issues we will be working on from 2013 to 2016.
What happens when I submit an application?
Our Membership Working Group will review your application, verify it against APC’s membership criteria and recommend approval. As the APC Council and Executive Board must approve all new organisational members, the application process can take up to over a month. All new members are then asked to pay their annual membership fees and are formally introduced to the APC network and informed about existing activities, opportunities for collaboration and different APC workspaces.
I have doubts about whether I can/should join. Who can I talk to?
Write to membership@apc.org and we will discuss your concerns or organise a call with you.
Where can I learn more about membership requirements and how to apply?
Find more information about how to become a member on the Joining APC page.
