Save the Children and Cegal make a difference through technology

When technology works better, people can focus on what truly matters. That’s important for NGOs, where as much time and financial resources as possible must be used to create the greatest possible impact. That’s also what the partnership between Cegal and Save the Children aims to do.  

Since 2023, we have partnered with Save the Children Norway (Redd Barna) with several pro bono activities. The ambition has been clear: combine our technology expertise with Save the Children’s humanitarian mission to create a measurable impact for children worldwide.   

Andreas Mjelva, Corporate Partnership Manager at Save the Children Norway, starts, “Over a three-year period, Cegal has supported both our international efforts and our work in Norway. Thanks to Cegal, we have been able to accomplish initiatives that would otherwise not have been possible.” 

Maria Nervik, Lead IT Consultancy at Cegal and pro bono worker, emphasizes: “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Save the Children. Save the Children has been very to the point on what they wanted from us, and what they want to achieve with the collaboration. Progress and quick clarifications have been important in all projects.”    

Education for more than 1,250 children

Three years into the partnership, the results are amazing. Both the company and the employees have supported Save the Children (STC) with more than 500,000 NOK, giving education to more than 1,250 children. Cegal's employees have also supported STC by contributing over 450 hours of pro bono work. This specialist tech consultancy has had a significant impact:  

• Supported STC with education technology, making sure tools are working properly

• Increased efficiency of STC's work internationally, by strengthening ways of working with country offices

• Contributed to the domestic program’s selection of volunteer management platforms

• Ensuring the IT platform is secure and GDPR-compliant.  

Mjelva says, “Save the Children depends on strong partners who contribute both financial support and professional expertise to our work. Over several years, Cegal has been an important partner, providing technology expertise that has made us more efficient and strengthened our capabilities in key areas of our operations.” 

Lowering IT costs and improving efficiency

One of the pro bono projects has been around administrative tools. With our support, STC significantly increased its use of Microsoft 365, including Teams and SharePoint. This improved cross-functional collaboration, standardized processes, and reduced time spent on administrative tasks. By structuring ways of working and optimizing existing licenses, the organization saved both time and costs—resources now redirected toward helping children.

This year, the contribution has been to support selecting and developing an IT solution that streamlines the administration of volunteers. 

Mjelva adds, “In our work with the most vulnerable children here in Norway, our volunteers are central. When adults give their time freely and are not paid for their work with children, it builds trust and credibility with the children and their families. Our volunteers are therefore the most important contributors to our work with children in Norway. Cegal has supported us in developing effective and secure tools to better support and safeguard our volunteers. By taking good care of our volunteers, we can achieve more for the most vulnerable children in Norway. This year, Cegal has helped us do exactly that.”

Securing access to education in conflict areas  

Initially, Cegal supported the development of a global learning platform as the organization’s first EdTech partner. The objective was to ensure that digital learning tools function reliably in high-risk and low-infrastructure environments.  

In fragile states and conflict-affected areas, access to education is often the first casualty. Schools are damaged by extreme weather, closed due to conflict, or simply inaccessible. Supporting structured, long-term education initiatives is therefore not only about learning. It’s about stability, protection, and future opportunities.  

A partnership aligned with Cegal's sustainability strategy

The collaboration is anchored in Humanity at Cegal, an employee-driven initiative fully supported by Cegal’s leadership. It reflects a broader belief: technology competence carries responsibility.  

Maria Nervik says that the Cegalians carry out this work pro bono in addition to their daily responsibilities, “It is very valuable to contribute our expertise to an organization that does incredibly important work like STC does.”  

The partnership has mobilized engagement across the company. Through initiatives such as “TV-aksjonen”, “Gamingaksjonen”, and internal fundraising events, Cegal employees have raised more than 100,000 NOK in addition to the over 500,000 NOK mentioned above.  

To put that into perspective: NOK 100,000 enables STC to establish and operate a child-friendly space in a conflict zone for one year, serving up to 500 children. These spaces provide safety, routine, learning, and psychosocial support during a crisis. 

Core business hand in hand with pro bono work

Our core business is delivering industry software, mission-critical cloud solutions, and digital advisory services to the energy sector. In our commercial projects, we help customers modernize complex IT landscapes, improve operational efficiency, and enable data-driven decisions. In this partnership, we apply the same discipline:  

• Structured analysis

   

• Scalable architecture,  

   

• Standardized ways of working

   

• Focus on measurable impact

The difference is not in how we work, but in where the impact is felt.  

Save the Children has worked for children’s rights globally for more than 100 years and reaches tens of millions of children annually. Together with Save the Children, we are turning technology into impact for a better world.  

Maria Nervik concludes, “It has been incredibly valuable to apply our expertise to such an important social mission. Contributing pro bono to an organization that makes a real difference for children has been both rewarding and meaningful.”  

 *headerfoto: Fotobyline Redd Barna/STC