APM18

APM18 is the official mobile guide for the Annual Partners’ Meet 2018, created to help attendees navigate the two-day conference on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Delhi on 25–26 September 2018. The APM18 app centralises the agenda, session descriptions and speaker bios so participants can quickly plan which panels to attend, access session documents and receive timely programme updates to make the most of discussions on Faecal Sludge Management and sector progress.

Key features

APM18 provides a centralised agenda and session planner that displays the full conference timetable, individual session summaries and speaker profiles. The app’s searchable session index helps you find presentations and workshops by topic, speaker or keyword, while the breakout session explorer surfaces parallel events so you can prioritise the items that matter most. Real-time alerts and push notifications highlight last-minute changes to venues or schedules, ensuring attendees are informed about updates as they happen. Resources such as slide decks, handouts and session summaries are linked to each event entry so relevant materials are easy to retrieve during and after the meet.

User experience and controls

The interface is designed for quick navigation: event pages open directly from the agenda, tap controls let you add or remove items from your personal plan, and a built-in search bar filters sessions instantly. Personalisation tools let you flag sessions of interest and build a tailored timetable for the two days. Where your device supports it, the app provides options to set reminders for sessions you mark and to integrate selected entries with your device calendar, helping you manage overlapping sessions and travel between rooms. The overall control scheme is straightforward and optimised for one-handed use at busy conference venues.

Agenda structure and progression

The meet is organised into plenaries, thematic panels and smaller breakout workshops; the app mirrors that structure so you can follow the progression of topics across the conference. Each session page includes an estimated duration, a concise summary that explains expected outcomes, and the names and affiliations of speakers. This layout makes it simple to track thematic threads—for example, sessions focused on policy, technical FSM solutions or financing—and to move from introductory plenaries into deeper, workshop-style discussions. The APM18 agenda view highlights concurrent sessions so you can decide how to split your time and follow up on outcomes afterwards.

Networking, accessibility and collaboration

Networking tools in the app include a searchable participant listing and public speaker profiles that surface affiliations and presentation topics, helping you identify potential collaborators and experts to approach during breaks. Contact actions appear where participants have shared details, enabling introductions while respecting privacy choices. The app was built with readability and straightforward navigation in mind: clear typography, contrast-conscious layouts and concise labelling aim to support users with a range of needs. Basic accessibility considerations have been applied to make content easier to scan in busy venue settings.

Offline use and resource management

Although some features rely on live updates and internet connectivity, APM18 supports offline access to materials you download in advance. Slide decks, session PDFs and previously viewed agenda pages remain available when network coverage is limited, and the app caches recent search results so you can consult key information between sessions. Live push alerts and real-time schedule changes will appear when connectivity is restored, while local reminders and your personalised timetable continue to function for planning on the go.

Development and event context

The app was produced for the Annual Partners’ Meet by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with Dasra and reflects the organisers’ aim of supporting a well-coordinated, accessible event experience. APM18 consolidates event resources, encourages productive networking and reduces time spent consulting printed schedules, helping participants focus on the substantive exchanges that drive progress in India’s WSH sector. Whether you are following plenaries on high-level strategy or attending hands-on breakout workshops, the app is designed to help you capture notes, locate sessions and follow up on collaboration opportunities after the meet.