Engineers Against Poverty
Engineers Against Poverty is a UK-registered charity that improves infrastructure governance and engineering practice in developing countries to reduce poverty, serving governments, multilateral institutions, and engineering bodies across 30+ countries via grant-funded technical assistance and policy programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Engineers Against Poverty does
Engineers Against Poverty (EAP) is a UK-registered charity and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1998 and headquartered in London, that works to improve infrastructure policy and engineering practice in developing countries with the aim of reducing poverty. Its portfolio centres on four interlocking programmes: (1) hosting the CoST – Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, a global multi-stakeholder platform promoting accountability in infrastructure delivery; (2) delivering the UK FCDO-funded Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme (GCIEP) as a partner in the PwC-led consortium operating across more than 30 countries; (3) the Africa Catalyst partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, including the Bridging the Gap internship programme with the Institution of Engineers Rwanda; and (4) the newly launched Infrastructure Professional Development Toolkit, an interactive 20-module learning resource. Supporting these programmes are the ASPIRE software tool for sustainability assessment of infrastructure projects and an extensive library of research publications covering infrastructure governance, climate-compatible development, labour rights, and social equity.
EAP serves three primary customer segments: national and local governments in developing countries (e.g., Pemba Municipality, Mozambique), multilateral development institutions (African Development Bank, World Bank), and UK government bodies (FCDO), with secondary engagement of African professional engineering bodies such as IER and NiMechE. Its business model is grant-funded and project-based rather than commercial: revenue comes from institutional grants (Royal Academy of Engineering, Open Society Foundations, ILO, UK FCO Cross-Country Prosperity Fund) and consultancy/technical assistance contracts delivered through consortium arrangements. The organisation operates with 1–10 permanent employees and deploys a global network of expert associates to deliver programming across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. EAP is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired since November 2025 by Richard Threlfall, with the Executive Director Petter Matthews leading day-to-day operations.
Engineers Against Poverty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Engineers Against Poverty
- Legal name
- Engineers Against Poverty
- Website
- https://engineersagainstpoverty.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Engineers Against Poverty is a UK-registered charity that improves infrastructure governance and engineering practice in developing countries to reduce poverty, serving governments, multilateral institutions, and engineering bodies across 30+ countries via grant-funded technical assistance and policy programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Engineers Against Poverty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International development and infrastructure governance advisory services
- NAICS
- Engineering Services (54133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Infrastructure, Engineering & Public Works Technical Assistance (WASH/Transport/Energy) (BPADAEAF)
Keywords
Where Engineers Against Poverty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Engineers Against Poverty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional Grants and Funding: EAP receives grants and funding from institutional funders including Royal Academy of Engineering, Open Society Foundations, International Labour Organization, and British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Cross-Country Prosperity Fund. This forms the primary revenue stream for their charitable operations.
- Consultancy and Technical Assistance Services: EAP provides technical assistance services to governments and development organisations, working as part of consortiums like GCIEP (managed by PwC-led consortium including Mott MacDonald, Adam Smith International, MDY Legal). Revenue comes from project-based consultancy contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Engineers Against Poverty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Engineers Against Poverty is a UK-registered charity that delivers technical-assistance programmes, policy advisory, and capacity-building services to governments and development institutions to improve infrastructure governance and reduce poverty. Its work centres on hosting CoST (the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative), running the GCIEP infrastructure-support programme in consortium with PwC, Mott MacDonald, and others, contributing to the Infrastructure Professional Development Toolkit, and producing applied research on climate-compatible infrastructure, social equity, labour rights, and engineering capacity in Africa. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through institutional grants and development-programme contracts.
Product overview
Engineers Against Poverty operates as a not-for-profit organization (registered charity 1071974) focused on ending poverty through better infrastructure. Rather than a single unified product, EAP offers a portfolio of interconnected programmes, tools, and knowledge products. The core offering includes hosting CoST (Infrastructure Transparency Initiative) for infrastructure accountability, delivering the Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme (GCIEP) through a PwC-led consortium, and the Infrastructure Professional Development Toolkit for capacity building. Supporting these are the ASPIRE sustainability assessment software, the EAP Podcast for knowledge dissemination, the Africa Catalyst Partnership for engineering capacity building in Africa, and an extensive library of research publications covering climate, governance, labour rights, and social equity in infrastructure development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CoST – Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: A global initiative promoting transparency and accountability in infrastructure projects, hosted and supported by EAP.
- Africa Catalyst
Products and services
- CoST – Infrastructure Transparency Initiative A global initiative hosted by Engineers Against Poverty that promotes transparency and accountability in infrastructure delivery across multiple countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Zambia. EAP provides technical assistance and capacity-strengthening around infrastructure transparency, participation, and accountability, including assessments of infrastructure performance and operational risks, for governments and citizens.
- Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme (GCIEP) A UK Government Centre of Expertise programme implemented through a PwC-led consortium (including Mott MacDonald, EAP, Adam Smith International, and MDY Legal) that delivers support to low- and middle-income countries to catalyse investment in sustainable infrastructure, boost sustainable policy and regulation, and improve municipal finance and public services. Works in over 30 countries with interventions in energy transition, urban development, climate finance, and public works strengthening.
- Infrastructure Professional Development Toolkit An interactive, self-led learning resource supporting professional development across five key themes: inclusive economic development, planning/finance/project development, ESG, climate/nature/low-carbon, and country typology contexts. Contains 20 modules covering topics from construction/maintenance opportunities to financing mechanisms for climate-compatible infrastructure development. Available for FCDO staff, partners, and general public use.
- ASPIRE (Assessment of Sustainability in Infrastructure Projects) A software-based tool for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure projects that recognises poverty reduction as an overarching objective. The tool helps evaluate environmental, social, and economic sustainability aspects of infrastructure development.
- Africa Catalyst Partnership A Royal Academy of Engineering initiative supported by EAP since 2017 to strengthen engineering professional bodies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the programme supports the 'Bridging the Gap' internship programme and other initiatives to develop engineering capacity in Rwanda, Nigeria, and other African nations.
- Bridging the Gap Programme An internship programme implemented with the Institute of Engineers Rwanda (IER) offering graduate engineers practical workplace experience over six months. The programme addresses the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills expected by employers, providing mentorship, mega-project exposure, and soft skills development to increase employability.
Companies that use Engineers Against Poverty
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Engineers Against Poverty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Engineers Against Poverty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Royal Academy of EngineeringcorePrimary funder and partner on Africa Catalyst programme. EAP supports the Royal Academy of Engineering's Africa Catalyst project which promotes engineering development in Sub-Saharan Africa. EAP has worked with RAEng since 2017 on strengthening professional engineering bodies across Africa.
- International Labour OrganizationcorePartner on construction sector research. EAP collaborated with ILO on migrant construction worker protection research, including the White Paper on Protecting migrant construction workers in the Middle East.
- CoST - Infrastructure Transparency InitiativecoreEAP hosts the CoST Secretariat. CoST promotes transparency and accountability in infrastructure delivery. EAP provides technical assistance and capacity-strengthening for CoST's infrastructure transparency work.
- PwC (Green Cities, Energy and Infrastructure Programme)coreEAP is a partner in the PwC-led GCIEP consortium implementing the UK Government Centre of Expertise in Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy. EAP provides technical assistance on infrastructure transparency and governance.
- Mott MacDonaldmajorPart of GCIEP consortium alongside EAP and PwC. Provides infrastructure and engineering expertise.
- Adam Smith InternationalmajorPart of GCIEP consortium alongside EAP. Provides development and governance expertise.
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)coreLong-standing partner in the Africa-UK Engineering for Development Partnership alongside EAP, RAEng, and Africa Engineers Forum. EAP Board member Richard Bayfield is Vice President of ICE.
- Africa Engineers ForumcoreLead partner in Africa-UK Engineering for Development Partnership alongside EAP, RAEng, and ICE.
- Pemba Municipality, MozambiquecoreEAP supported Pemba municipality in finalising its Urban Structure Plan and improving public finance management. This partnership helped attract African Development Bank investment.
- African Development BankcoreFollowing EAP's governance work with Pemba Municipality, the African Development Bank committed US$500,000 for a green bypass road project. Represents successful collaboration to attract infrastructure investment.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Engineers Against Poverty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Practical Action: A UK-based international development charity using technology and engineering to address poverty. Highly comparable in mission, funding mix, and the use of technical expertise to serve low-income communities.
- Build Change: A non-profit focused on disaster-resilient housing and schools in developing countries. Comparable in combining engineering, developing-country delivery, and a focus on resilience and social outcomes.
- WaterAid: A UK-based international development NGO focused on water and sanitation infrastructure. Comparable in size, funding model (institutional grants), and mission to deliver infrastructure outcomes for poverty reduction in low-income countries.
- Engineering for Change (E4C): A community of practice for engineers working on international development. Comparable in focus on engineering for poverty reduction, though more platform / community-oriented than EAP's direct delivery model.
- CoST – Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: The global multi-stakeholder initiative for infrastructure transparency that EAP hosts. It is the most directly comparable entity in mission and activities, with overlapping programmes, geographies, and donor relationships.
Regional players
- Bridges to Prosperity: A non-profit building trail bridges in isolated communities. It is relevant because EAP board member Tina Gunnarsson is the East Africa Corporate Manager and Sustainability Lead; comparable in spirit as an engineering-for-poverty organisation.
Broad incumbents
- Transparency International: A larger, established international NGO focused on anti-corruption and governance, including in infrastructure. Overlaps with EAP's accountability-focused work at a broader, less infrastructure-specialised scale.
- Habitat for Humanity International: A large international NGO focused on housing and community development. Comparable in the cross-cutting focus on infrastructure, housing, and poverty reduction, though much larger and more delivery-oriented.
Emerging players
- Publish What You Pay: A global civil society coalition promoting transparency in extractive industries. Adjacent to EAP's CoST work in that it pursues similar transparency and accountability outcomes in adjacent infrastructure-related sectors.
- Open Contracting Partnership: An organisation driving disclosure and participation in public procurement. Comparable to EAP's procurement and infrastructure governance work, particularly with Vinay Sharma's procurement expertise on EAP's board.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Engineers Against Poverty social profiles
Digital presenceEngineers Against Poverty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Engineers Against Poverty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Engineers Against Poverty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Engineers Against Poverty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Engineers Against Poverty
What does Engineers Against Poverty do?
Engineers Against Poverty is a UK-registered charity that delivers technical-assistance programmes, policy advisory, and capacity-building services to governments and development institutions to improve infrastructure governance and reduce poverty. Its work centres on hosting CoST (the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative), running the GCIEP infrastructure-support programme in consortium with PwC, Mott MacDonald, and others, contributing to the Infrastructure Professional Development Toolkit, and producing applied research on climate-compatible infrastructure, social equity, labour rights, and engineering capacity in Africa. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through institutional grants and development-programme contracts.
Is Engineers Against Poverty a public or private company?
Engineers Against Poverty is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Engineers Against Poverty founded?
Engineers Against Poverty was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Engineers Against Poverty based?
Engineers Against Poverty is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Engineers Against Poverty make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Institutional Grants and Funding is the primary driver. The others are consultancy and Technical Assistance Services.
Who are Engineers Against Poverty's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Practical Action, Build Change, WaterAid, Engineering for Change (E4C) and CoST – Infrastructure Transparency Initiative. Bridges to Prosperity is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Transparency International and Habitat for Humanity International. Emerging players are Publish What You Pay and Open Contracting Partnership.
Does Engineers Against Poverty have an API?
No public API is recorded for Engineers Against Poverty.
What industry is Engineers Against Poverty in?
Engineers Against Poverty's product category is International development and infrastructure governance advisory services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAL, Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development, with a secondary code of BPADAEAF, Infrastructure, Engineering & Public Works Technical Assistance (WASH/Transport/Energy). Its NAICS code is 54133 and its SIC code is 8711.