What Health Poverty Action does

Health Poverty Action is a UK-registered charity (charity number 290535) founded in 1984 (originally as Health Unlimited) by a British doctor returning from Afghanistan, who assembled the first staff to stand in partnership with marginalized communities affected by conflict. The organization today operates direct health, water-and-sanitation, livelihoods, and advocacy programs across 14 countries — Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, China, Myanmar, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom — serving populations that other development organizations typically overlook, including indigenous communities, women and girls, and people in conflict-affected and remote border regions. Functional areas span malaria prevention, maternal and child health, mental health, WASH, food security, drug policy reform advocacy, and educational programming on the colonial roots of global poverty.

The organization operates with a decentralized model: it has eliminated its UK head office in favor of a virtual global Core Team distributed across locations worldwide, framed as a commitment to decolonisation. Delivery is executed through country offices, in-country directors (e.g., Somaliland, Guatemala, Ethiopia), and strategic partnerships, most notably with Find Your Feet for cost-shared health and livelihoods programming in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Somaliland, and with The Innovation for the domestic Rise in Our Roots program. The organization is also a member of the People's Health Movement and facilitates an international Drug Policy Reform and Environmental Justice coalition.

The business model is donation-funded rather than commercial: revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring via a "Community" monthly giving program), corporate and trust partnerships, major donor gifts from £1,000, legacy giving via bequests, and event-driven community fundraising (TCS London Marathon, Walk the Distance, Stream for Change, Choirs for Change, school programs, DIY fundraising). The organization states that 96p of every £1 raised goes to programmes. There is no proprietary technology platform — the offering consists of charitable programs, advocacy campaigns, and educational content delivered via website, email, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, Instagram), and field operations. No revenue figures, headcount, or financial statements are disclosed in the available material.

Name

Health Poverty Action

Legal name

Health Poverty Action

Website

https://healthpovertyaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Health Poverty Action is a UK-registered international health charity, founded in 1984, that delivers health, water, livelihoods, and advocacy programs across 14 countries for marginalized, indigenous, and conflict-affected communities, funded through individual donations, corporate and trust partnerships, legacy giving, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters via website portal, direct debit, and online giving platforms. Monthly giving program called 'Health Poverty Action Community' provides sustainable funding.
2. Corporate and Trust Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations and foundations for charitable giving and cause marketing campaigns.
3. Legacy Giving: Bequests and gifts left in supporters' Wills as a long-term funding mechanism.
4. Event Fundraising: Community events including marathon running, virtual treks, gaming streams, and choir performances generate donations.
5. Major Donor Gifts: Donations of £1,000 upwards can be directed to specific projects.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Health Poverty Action is a UK-registered international health charity (charity number 290535) that delivers direct health programs, advocacy campaigns, and community-based interventions for marginalized populations across 14 countries. It runs health outreach, malaria prevention, maternal health, water and sanitation (WASH), and livelihoods programs alongside policy advocacy on drug policy reform, the colonial roots of poverty, and language around aid. The work is funded through donations, corporate and trust partnerships, legacy giving, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Health Poverty Action is an international health charity organization rather than a technology product company. Their offerings consist of charitable programs, advocacy campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and educational resources focused on addressing global health inequalities and the root causes of poverty. The organization operates programs in 14 countries including health outreach, malaria prevention, maternal health, water and sanitation projects, livelihoods support, drug policy reform advocacy, and community fundraising events such as the London Marathon, Walk the Distance, and Stream for Change. They publish policy reports and educational materials including lesson plans on the colonial roots of global poverty, and maintain various appeals such as Beyond Conflict and Cambodia in Motion. Their work is delivered through strategic partnerships with organizations like Find Your Feet and is funded through donations, trusts, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beyond Conflict Appeal A dedicated fundraising appeal and program targeting communities affected by conflict, supporting Health Poverty Action's work in conflict-affected regions such as Myanmar and Somaliland.
• Cambodia in Motion Appeal A dedicated fundraising appeal supporting Health Poverty Action's community health and mobility programs in Cambodia.
• A World on the Move Campaign A campaign program addressing health and rights issues arising from migration, including Health Poverty Action's work in Guatemala with communities affected by emigration.
• Rename 'Aid' Pledge Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 residents gained access to clean water in Emoneni village, Malawi
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Find Your FeetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Find Your Feet to save costs through sharing essential services and pool knowledge and resources to increase scale and effectiveness of global work on health and livelihoods. First combined project expanded to communities in Malawi addressing clean water access. Also pioneering approaches to mental illness with a programme in Zimbabwe and integrating mental health into Somaliland work.
• The InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Innovation to deliver 'Rise in Our Roots' program in UK cities, building a national network of emerging leaders from marginalised communities committed to strengthening solidarity and challenging inequality.
• International Coalition on Drug Policy Reform and Environmental JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Poverty Action facilitates this rapidly growing coalition of advocates, activists and academics with members from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, and the UK. The coalition exposes the link between prohibition and climate change.
• People's Health MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Poverty Action is part of the People's Health Movement, a global network bringing together grassroots health activists, civil society organisations and academic institutions from around the world, particularly from low and middle income countries. Endorsers of The People's Charter for Health.
• The Kampala Initiative - Track Changing GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted by Health Poverty Action on behalf of the Track Changing Group. Campaign to rename 'aid' with suggested alternatives including Global Redistribution, Global Solidarity, Global Equity Gap, Global Collaboration, Global Equalization. The initiative has 34 organizational signatories and numerous individual practitioners.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): International medical humanitarian NGO delivering health services in conflict-affected and low-income settings. Comparable to HPA in its geographic focus on neglected regions, direct service delivery model, and donor-funded revenue structure, though considerably larger and more institutional.
• Partners In Health: Global health nonprofit providing direct health care to the world's poorest across multiple countries. Comparable to HPA in its mission-driven approach to health equity, focus on accompaniment of marginalized communities, and integration of advocacy with service delivery.
• ActionAid International: Federation of international NGOs working on poverty and women's rights across multiple countries. Comparable to HPA in its rights-based approach, women's empowerment programming, and decentralized federated structure.

Direct peers

• WaterAid: UK-based international NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access in low-income countries. Comparable to HPA in its WASH programming (e.g., Manyamula project in Malawi), UK charity governance, individual-donor-driven funding model, and country-office structure.
• Amref Health Africa: Africa-based international health NGO delivering community health services across multiple African countries. Comparable to HPA in its community-led health delivery model, focus on marginalized communities, and presence in overlapping geographies (Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi).
• HealthNet TPO: International NGO working on health systems strengthening in conflict-affected and post-conflict settings. Comparable to HPA in its delivery of health services in fragile states, mental health programming, and presence in similar geographies (Afghanistan origin, African and Asian operations).
• People's Health Movement: Global network of health activists and grassroots organizations advocating for 'Health for All.' HPA is actively part of this network; directly comparable in its focus on social determinants of health, anti-neoliberal critique, and global health justice advocacy.
• Find Your Feet: UK-based international NGO working on rural livelihoods in Asia and Africa. HPA's strategic partner with shared management and governance; directly comparable in geographic focus (Malawi, Zimbabwe), work on food security and livelihoods, and UK charity structure.
• War on Want: UK-based international NGO tackling root causes of global poverty through campaigning and advocacy. Comparable to HPA in its UK base, social-justice framing, focus on corporate power and global inequalities, and donor-funded revenue model.

Emerging players

• International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC): Global network advocating for treatment access and health rights in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable to HPA in its community-led, advocacy-driven model addressing health inequities and its coalition-building approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HealthPoverty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HealthPovertyAction
• Facebookfacebook.com/share/EgK8N3pg8CqqPKvs/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthpovertyaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Health Poverty Action