Privacy Policy

SPRING is a coalition of the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) managed with assistance from a number of external consultants including Palladium International Ltd (collectively here, “SPRING”). SPRING is committed to respecting the privacy and security of your personal information. The following online Privacy Policy, updated in March 2017, describes the information we collect and how we use it. Please note that if you use this website or submit an application to SPRING, you agree to be bound by our Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use.

For questions, concerns or the modification or removal of personal information, please email us at: [email protected].

COLLECTING INFORMATION
Like many websites, we gather information about how visitors use our website. In general, you can visit many of our web pages without telling us who you are or revealing any personal information about yourself. We may track your visit for trends and statistics, but you will remain anonymous unless you actively submit your personal data to us through the website or submit an application to SPRING. Once you choose to give us your personal information, you are not anonymous to us. For more information, see the “Application Information” and “Cookies and Pixel Tags” sections below.

APPLICATION INFORMATION
If you submit an application to SPRING, we will protect any personal information you provide to us in the application. Only SPRING personnel, including experts and partners involved in administering the program, will have access to that information. Your contact information will only be used to send you updates about your application and about the program. If you are chosen to participate in the program, you will be asked to agree to additional terms and conditions that may affect how your personal information is shared.

SHARING INFORMATION
We will not sell, rent or share your personal or contact information with unaffiliated individuals or organisations without your express consent. On rare occasions, we may disclose specific information upon governmental request, in response to a court order, when required by law, to enforce our website policies, or to protect our or others’ rights, property, or safety. We may also share information with companies assisting in fraud protection or investigation. We do not provide information to these agencies or companies for marketing or commercial purposes.

PROTECTING YOUR INFORMATION
We use a variety of security measures, including sophisticated encryption and authentication tools to maintain the safety of your personal information. Your personal information is contained behind secure networks and is only accessible to a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. Regardless of these efforts, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

MODIFYING OR REMOVING YOUR INFORMATION
You have the right to withdraw any consent given with respect to our use of your personal data. Furthermore, you have the right to request the modification or deletion of your personal data in the event it is incorrect or processed without your consent. To modify your personal data, or to completely opt-out of SPRING using your personal data, please contact us at the email address set forth above.

COOKIES
A cookie is a small removable data file that is stored by your web browser on your computer. Cookies allow us to enhance and personalise your online experience. For example, we use cookies to recognise you when you return to our website and to analyse visitor behaviour. You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Google Chrome or Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser “Help” menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookie settings. If you turn cookies off, you won’t have access to many features that make your site experience more efficient and some of our services may not function properly.

We also use pixel tags – tiny graphic images – to help us analyse your online behaviour. Pixel tags also allow us to send you email in a format you can read and let us know when you have opened an email message from us.

We may use pixel tags to collect information about your visit, including the pages you view, the links you click and other actions taken in connection with our sites and services. We also collect certain standard information that your browser sends to every website you visit, such as your IP address, browser type and language, access times, and referring website addresses.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age.

INTERNATIONAL USERS
This website is operated, in whole or in part, from the United States. In addition to being subject to this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use, the collection, storage, and use of your data will be subject to United States laws and regulations, which may be different from the laws and regulations of your home country. By using this Site or applying to the SPRING program, you are consenting to this collection, storage, and use.

POLICY CHANGES
We may change our Privacy Policy from time to time. We encourage you to refer to this policy on an ongoing basis so that you understand our current Privacy Policy. This policy was last modified on May 15, 2018.

QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK
We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns about privacy. Please send us any and all feedback pertaining to privacy, or any other issue.