About

Our Purpose

We believe that doing good can always be done better.

Catalpa exists to make public services work better for people. We partner with governments and development agencies across the Asia-Pacific to co-design services and systems that improve lives—whether through healthcare access, education delivery, or transparent governance.

We combine human-centered design, service innovation, and deep technical expertise to strengthen government systems and deliver impact at scale. With roots in Timor-Leste and work spanning over 20 countries, our approach is practical, respectful, and collaborative.

Our process

Using digital to amplify positive impact

In Timor-Leste there are more SIM Cards than people, and by 2030 around 91% of Pacific Islanders are expected to be using smartphones. As access expands, user expectations are changing. This presents a timely opportunity for governments and programs to improve how services are delivered to people.

Our services

About Catalpa

We started with a scooter, a $5,000 grant, and a big idea.

Catalpa began in the mountains of Timor-Leste, where we spent two years designing and implementing programs to strengthen rural health and emergency services. With a tiny team and a single scooter, we set out to answer one question: how can information and communication improve access to frontline services?

We quickly learned that transformation doesn’t come from the top down—it happens when you work alongside the people closest to the problem. That creating value and utility for the person at the end of the service is not just a design principle—it’s a necessity in fragile systems. And that small things—a working printer, a consistent data report—can make or break national reform.

What began as a contribution became a conviction: international development would be reshaped by human-centered design, digital transformation, and adaptive, iterative program management. Catalpa was founded to put these ideas into practice—partnering with governments, communities, and development actors to build systems that work better for the people who need them most.

We started Catalpa with a scooter, a $5,000 grant, and a belief that thoughtful interventions could drive real change. We still believe the best solutions are co-created, grounded, and built at the speed of trust

We strengthen public systems through thoughtful, practical innovation.

Catalpa blends digital capabilities with deep domain expertise to support governments in delivering better, more equitable services—especially in hard-to-reach places. We don’t see digital as a standalone sector, but as a core enabler of reform, access, and accountability.

We work across education, health, and governance—supporting frontline workers, ministries, and communities alike. Whether it’s designing policy, building tools, or running programs, we ask: how can we remove barriers, simplify delivery, and create lasting value for the people at the end of the system?

Our work includes:

Co-designing digital solutions that improve the efficiency, quality, and reach of services
Designing and implementing programs that support government-led reform
Improving professional development access for rural teachers, health providers, and civil servants through mobile-first, micro-learning models
Advising on strategy, education system design, and capability development
Embedding adaptive, data-driven, human-centered approaches into public institutions

We know that the tool is only one part of the answer. Real impact depends on how programs are designed, who we partner with, and the way we work together.