Our History
For 50 years, Pact has been dedicated to improving the lives of people around the globe who are affected by poverty and marginalization, and doing it in a way that empowers them to overcome challenges on their own.
Since our founding in 1971, much has changed at Pact. When we began, we were a membership organization for U.S. nonprofits working to turn the tables for the world’s most disadvantaged. Our mission was to help our members better serve people in need by building their self-help capacity and improving social and economic conditions. Through the years, our top priorities were health care and neglected groups, such as women. Two decades later, we became an independent organization, and since then, we have vastly expanded our geographic reach, our practice areas and our impact. Yet for the past half-century, Pact has always been dedicated to one promise: improving the lives of people around the globe who are affected by poverty and marginalization, and doing it in a way that empowers them to overcome challenges on their own. Today, our work reflects this promise more than ever, as Pact continues to lead the way in international development programming that puts local communities first and is carried out in true partnership with those we serve.
We are proud to have reached millions of people across more than 60 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas – and to have made lasting change hand in hand with thousands of communities and partners. We look forward to the next 50 years of community-focused progress.

Pact works in Ukraine since 2008. We partner with local organizations, businesses and governments to build lasting solutions for thriving, resilient communities. Our vision is a world where everyone owns their future. 

In Ukraine, we have been implementing projects funded by the United States Government and the Government of Canada to:

  • promote democracy and strengthen civil society,
  • support reforms and European integration,
  • increase citizens engagement,
  • improve HIV services,  
  • advance gender equality,
  • advocate women's and girls' rights
  • strengthen women's economic empowerment.

More about our projects in Ukraine:

Our Timeline
With a $5,000 grant from USAID, PACT is born with a mission to help organizations serving the most disadvantaged.
1970s
  • 1971
    Under CEO Robert O'brien, Private Agencies Cooperating Together, or PACT, is founded as a membership organization for registered U.S private voluntary organizations. PACT’s founding mission is to coordinate its members to better serve the world’s most disadvantaged people by building their self-help capacity and improving social and economic conditions.
  • 1979
    PACT names health care and neglected groups, such as women, as top priorities.
A decade of expansion, and a move into direct program delivery.
80s
1980s
  • 1984
    PACT launches its Management and Use of Information Program on the premise that information is an underused resource in development.
  • 1986
    PACT is awarded its first projects funded directly by USAID missions, including programs to strengthen coalitions and umbrella organizations in Latin America.
Pact is...
A leader in global partnerships
Pact defines its future as an independent organization empowering local NGOs as agents of change.
90s
1990s
Pact is...
an expert in HIV and AIDS programming
  • 1992
    PACT becomes an independent international nonprofit organization, dissolving its membership, rewriting its bylaws and continuing to expand in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
    Pact logo
1995

As expansion continues in Africa and Asia, Pact changes its name to a single word – no longer an acronym.

Pact develops its Organizational Capacity Assessment tool and becomes the go-to civil society capacity development organization in the U.S.

2000s

New geographies, areas of expertise and partnerships focus on strengthening communities.

2000s
Pact is...
a pioneer in improving the lives of artisanal and small-scale miners
  • 2001
    Worth magazine recognizes Pact as one of the 100 American charities “most likely to save the world.”
  • 2008
    Pact begins implementation of USAID-funded UNITER project in Ukraine.
    Uniter project
Pact cements its place as a leader in integrated, local solutions to development challenges.
2010s
2010
Pact publishes its first Measuring Pact’s Mission report, with comprehensive indicators cutting across countries to measure global impact by sector.
Pact launches Capacity Development Marketplace in Ukraine under UNITER project.
2012
Pact’s work in Ukraine expands into health impact area with the launch of the RESPOND - USAID HIV Flagship project.
2013
Pact receives funding from DRL to implement “Fostering Civic Engagement in Ukraine: Championing the Grassroots” project.
2014
Pact partners with Financial Markets International to implement the USAID FMCDI Program in Ukraine.
Pact is...
a partner for renewable energy and environmental sustainability
2015

social entrepreneurship

Pact pilots social enterprise initiative in Ukraine and helps launch a new global forum for INGOs engaging in impact investing and social enterprise to learn and collaborate.

  • 2016
    Pact in Ukraine begins implementation of USAID ENGAGE Activity.
    Engage
  • 2017
    In Ukraine, Pact partners with Promprylad, a platform for community engagement, alternative education, urban development and social commerce housed in a refurbished factory in the Western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
2018

Pact launches a new global program to end energy poverty.

 

Pact in Ukraine partners with the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.

Partnership with Global Compact

In Ukraine, Pact registers a Representative Office and implements research projects to study social entrepreneurship ecosystem and social return on investment.

rep office and research

2019

Pact is selected to lead USAID’s ACHIEVE project, a global effort to reach HIV epidemic control among pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children.

Pact releases the first-ever State of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector report in partnership with the World Bank.

Women of Ukraine

In Ukraine, Pact partners with Global Affairs Canada to implement the Women of Ukraine: heard, capable, resilient project.

2020

WINGS

Pact expands its partnership with Global Affairs Canada in Ukraine and begins implementation of the WINGS project.

Building on the relationship established in 2018,  Pact joins the European Venture Philanthropy Association as a member in 2020.

EVPA

 

Pact pivots programs around the world to respond to the Covid-19 epidemic.

2021

National ethical jeweler Brilliant Earth launches a special collection on International Women’s Day featuring gemstones from Pact’s Moyo Gems partnership.

Pact launches a strategic review that focuses on delivering sustainable, systemic and inclusive solutions to community and global development challenges.

In 2021 and beyond, we are looking forward to new partnerships, more progress and prosperity for the communities Pact serves, and the day when we’ve won the fight against global poverty. Join us.