This volume is part of a series which offers practical advice for trainees studying rural building courses. The main aim of the course is to provide much-needed trade information in simple language, with numerous, clear illustrations. It draws on the expertise of fieldworkers who have devised simple building methods appropriate to a rural community and is the product of years of experimentation with different methods.

This volume is part of a series which offers practical advice for trainees studying rural building courses. The main aim of the course is to provide trade information in simple language, with numerous, clear illustrations. It draws on the expertise of fieldworkers who have devised simple building methods appropriate to a rural community and is the product of years of experimentation with different methods.

"Medical and Hygiene Textile Production" considers the production of medical and hygiene textiles on a small scale in developing countries. Medical textiles include gauze, bandages and cotton wool, and hygiene textiles consist of sanitary towels and nappies.;Although the technologies for these products are often simple, in the past there has been very little comprehensive information available about production methods. This handbook offers basic information on all levels of manufacture and small scale production of these items, from household level production to small centralized units, from raw material processing to the packaging and labelling of the finished products.;All the processes described can be undertaken by hand or with the use of small mechanically driven equipment.

This publication reviews the wide range of beancurd varieties available, the principles used in their manufacture by traditional methods and those methods that have potential for large-scale manufacture.

The African Sahel has one of the poorest regional economies in the world. Within it pastoralists are particularly vulnerable because development policy has often failed to address local concerns. By contrast, the Turkana rainwater harvesting project described in this book stands out in its simplicity - a basic water conservation technology based on priorities identified by local people, adapted by them, and in which local pastoralists and gardeners take full responsibility for the control and administration of their work. The authors illustrate the project's progress through a series of descriptive scenes which discuss the successes and learning experiences. The whole process, covering the years 1984 to 1990, was one of continuous dialogue between western technological principles and experience, and local observation and knowledge - resulting in a successful learning process promising to empower local people to better cope with economic pressures and the harsh environment. Written and designed for development workers, farmers and agricultural fieldworkers, researchers and extensionists, as well as project planners and advisors, this companion to Rainwater Harvesting has lessons in participatory techniques for all those engaged in projects involving development agencies and local people.

The jiko, a charcoal-burning stove consisting of a ceramic liner fitted inside a metal case, burns 25 to 40 per cent less charcoal than the traditional stoves on which its design was based. This book provides guidance on its production and promotion.

In a world of growing complexity and dwindling resources, the relationship between technology and sustainability is a pressing issue of concern at the highest levels. This book improves our understanding by examining the ways that people, technology and governance shape each other with implications for sustainability. It is the first book to link technology studies and governance research to this problem. Contributions from leading environmental social scientists are included, with each chapter reporting on new research and tackling complex, but vital issues. Drawing on examples such as wave and tidal power, wind power, micro-generation, community waste recycling and eco-housing, the book provides powerful new insights into the governance of technology for sustainability. A detailed introduction and conclusion discuss existing research directions and identify the contribution that the book makes in advancing our understanding of the people-technology-governance nexus and its implications for sustainability. This is essential reading for all those in academia, government and industry working at the critical interface between how we develop, deploy and govern technology in the pursuit of sustainability.

This selective review looks at case studies where NGOs have been involved in rural/agricultural technology programmes directed at the rural poor, and attempts to identify those common features which characterize the agencies that have met with success. (Published in the ITDG Occasional Paper series).

A summary of the state of the art in micro-hydro with a section on the economics of micro-hydro installation and operation. The book should be useful to engineers, consultants and field workers in the developing world.

Seeking to promote a wider knowledge of traditional technologies in the Middle East and Central Asia, the contributors address three related themes: the history, originality, variety and sophistication of traditional science, technology and material culture in these regions; their influence on the history of Europe and the West; and the threat posed by modern Western technologies to the survival of traditional technologies which have continuing value according to turn-of-the -millennium standards of sustainability and appropriateness to local cultural, social and ecological conditions. There is a clear need for conservation of some artefacts that are under current threat of extinction.

In this book, Nagesh Kumar and expert contributors examine and explain the emerging patterns in international technology transfers and foreign direct investment flows (FDIs) over the past two decades. They analyse the trends in internationalization of corporate activity in individual source countries, discussing outflows from both major and emerging source countries. This departs from the existing treatments of FDI as homogenous resource and allows for a more detailed prediction of future outflow patterns. Throughout, the research focuses upon the implications of new trends for developing countries. Kumar concludes by outlining the policy implications for the governments of such countries seeking to mobilize technology and FDI for their industrialization and further integration into the international community. Controversially, he cautions against excessive optimism about the potential of FDI inflows as an agent of development. This book draws together much data and information which is not readily available and provides reflections upon international business negotiations from a developing country's perspective.

The price or reliability of petroleum supplies, and pressures to reduce environmental pollution have increased the interest in renewable energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels. Wind, solar, hydro and biomass are particularly suited for use with small-scale, decentralised energy systems. Those responsible for energy supply (government energy planners, development project managers or small business entrepreneurs) often face problems in deciding which energy source, and its conversion technology, is most appropriate for their specific situation, and where they can obtain the necessary equipment. This invaluable guide to small-scale energy equipment will provide some of the answers to such problems. The catalogue builds on both the 1979 edition of The Power Guide, and the equipment directory produced by the Technology and Development Group of the University of Twente in the Netherlands as training course material. The data has been comprehensively revised and updated on the basis of research carried out by members of the Technology and Development Group, members of Intermediate Technology in the UK, and Densitech bv of the Netherlands. The Power Guide will facilitate decision-making by providing guidelines for the selection of the most appropriate renewable energy source as well as providing information on hundreds of products from almost 500 manufacturers and suppliers in more than 40 countries throughout the world, covering the following areas: micro-hydro, hydraulic ram and river current turbine products; windpumps and wind generators; biomass pre-treatment, combustion and steam systems, and gasifiers; solar photovoltaic and thermal equipment. The information is broken down into chapters each with an introduction with guidelines on equipment selection and the possibilities and constraints of using that energy form. This is followed by manufacturers' data which contain key information on the equipment. Section guidelines are also included on internal combustion engines, and biogas and ethanol equipment. South manufacturers represent more than half of the entries. Essential reading for development workers.

The wind is a renewable energy resource that can never be exhausted and which avoids pollution. This makes it one of the most environmentally sound energy options available.;Applied to water pumping, the wind has been central in the stimulation of many rural economies, such as the Great Plains in the United States, the Australian outback, and Argentina, and there is still great potential for future development of the wind-pumping resource. However, the scarcity of appropriate information on the technology, economics and potential has restricted dissemination in the developing world. "Windpumping: A Guide for Development Workers" overcomes this problem by taking the reader through every aspect of this topic in a systematic way.;The appendix includes a list of international suppliers and manufacturers of windpumping equipment, together with a summary of their products and services.

Originally prepared for an Expert Meeting organised by UNESCO in 1980, this paper outlines Intermediate Technology's basic approach to development work; and assesses the lessions learned from 15 years experience in development activities (Published in the ITDG Occasional Paper series).

This important collection examines the means by which technological knowledge is transferred from countries that develop it to those who need it. Written by well-known authorities and derived from a conference held at the University of California and sponsored by IBEAR (International Business Education Research Program), the contributions focus on the transfer of technology from Western countries to Asian countries.

This book comprises the proceedings of a rural technologies conference organised by the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), which was conceptualized and initiated by Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India R. Chidambaram in 2003-04. The book highlights case studies and research into providing science and technology interventions for the development of rural areas. Covering various aspects of research carried out in the area of rural technologies, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, professionals, and policymakers alike.

Seeking to promote a wider knowledge of traditional technologies in the Middle East and Central Asia, the contributors address three related themes: the history, originality, variety and sophistication of traditional science, technology and material culture in these regions; their influence on the history of Europe and the West; and the threat posed by modern Western technologies to the survival of traditional technologies which have continuing value according to turn-of-the -millennium standards of sustainability and appropriateness to local cultural, social and ecological conditions. There is a clear need for conservation of some artefacts that are under current threat of extinction.

This book covers the public health, technical, socioeconomic, sociocultural and institutional aspects of sanitation in towns and cities of developing countries. The text features excreta-related diseases and the use of sanitation to reduce their transmission. The sanitation technologies covered in detail are VIP latrines, pour-flush toilets, septic tanks, settled sewerage and simplified sewerage, with additional chapters on sullage disposal, pit emptying, and sewage treatment and reuse. Sociocultural constraints on sanitation systems and their socioeconomic costing are described, together with hygiene education, which is essential in order to achieve maximum benefits to health. The text also explains how to choose the most appropriate sanitation option for a given low-income community. Finally, institutional aspects are reviewed, including effective sanitation programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Design a rainwater harvesting system for any home in any climate.

Water is a crucial resource increasingly under stress. Yet rainfall, even in arid climates, can make up a sizable portion of any home, acreage, or farm’s water requirements if harvested and utilized with care. The key is appropriate planning and high-quality site- and climate-specific design.

Essential Rainwater Harvesting is a comprehensive manual for designing, building, and maintaining water harvesting systems for the warm and cold climates of the world. Presenting design considerations and approaches for the most common household rainwater supply scenarios – primary, supplemental, and off-grid supply – this step-by-step approach covers:

- Considerations for full-property water security

- Demand planning and conservation strategies

- Supply calculations and design implications for extreme rainfall and drought

- Materials selection and water quality

- System and site assessment

- Sizing and design of gutters, conveyance, tanks, and pumps

- Pre-filtration, filtration, and disinfection options

- System maintenance and upkeep

This practical resource provides DIYers, trades, and rainwater practitioners with the essential tools, methods, and technical know-how to design, build, and maintain rainwater harvesting systems anywhere.

Sand rivers can be found in arid and semi-arid areas of the world where water is in short supply. Despite their dry appearance, useable quantities of water often reside in aquifers beneath the surface and can provide a sustainable and safe supply for rural communities. Nevertheless, dry rivers are often overlooked as a realizable source of water. This book sets out to address this issue and promotes the abstraction of water from sand rivers as a viable and affordable option for dryland areas. It enables the reader to assess the potential for abstraction from beneath a dry river bed and provides practical guidelines for doing so. The book is a 'how to' manual and is essential reading for engineers, technicians, fieldworkers and project planners who are faced with the challange of providing and sustaining safe and reliable water sources for low-income communities. It is also aimed at providing decision-makers in the water industry, commercial, government and non-governmental organizations with an overview of an alternative, appropriate water supply solution for dryland areas.

The procurement or manufacture of wheel and axle assemblies is a major problem for rural workshops involved in production of non-motorized vehicles. The scarcity of these components restricts the supply of low-cost vehicles to rural communities.

This book examines the pros and cons of the local production of carpentry hand-tools as opposed to their importation. In seeking the best strategy to adopt it also outlines the previous methods adopted by VSO and Intermediate Technology who have much experience in this area. Published in the VSO ECOE Programme series.

The interest and support that the "Farmer First" philosophy has received has led to a virtual revolution in the agricultural sciences. While many hail this populist perspective as a step in the right direction, some have argued that it fails to capture the complex cultural, social and political dimensions of knowledge creation, innovation, transmission and application within rural societies and scientific organizations. Because they do not adequately address these fundamental issues of power and knowledge, critics charge that some "Farmer First" initiatives encounter many of the same problems as conventional transfer of technology strategies.;The purpose of "Beyond Farmer First" is to reveal how agricultural research and extension, far from being discrete, rational acts, are in fact part of a process of coming to terms with conflicting interests and viewpoints, a process in which choices are made, alliances formed, exclusions effected and worldviews imposed. By going beyond "Farmer First", this theoretically informed perspective describes agricultural development as what it is: a highly ideological and political process. As Robert Chambers notes in his foreword, the concerns of "Farmer First" with performance and "Beyond Farmer First" with process indicate that a radical rethinking of knowledge, power and agricultural science is well under way.;This book consists of some 36 contributions representing the disciplines of agronomy, agricultural science, anthropology, ecology, entomology, forestry, geography, management science, pedagogy, sociology and others. Contributors are drawn from academia, local NGOs and national and international research and development agencies, with detailed case material from Africa, Australia, Central and South America and Europe.

Information about appropriate technology available to developing countries is common. What is not often achieved is a flow of the actual technologies themselves between countries - and the IDEA Awards aim to stimulate this transfer of useful technology between needy people in different environments.;This book consists of profiles of over 80 technical innovations in the field of development, which represent technologies submitted to the Innovation for Development Association for their 1990 awards. Five main subject areas are covered: water, energy, forestry, farming and fishing, and the criteria for judging the nominations were sustainability, self-reliance and socio-economic acceptance.;The main purpose of this book is to disseminate knowledge of innovations which have been developed and tested in real environments with real needs, and in close contact with end-users. Most of the innovations presented have a full page each, some are illustrated, and all are accompanied by contacts of people and addresses. These 80 plus innovations will undoubtedly be as useful as the original hundred ("100 innovations for development") and having already proved their value once, should prove their

Intended for professionals, administrators or engineers, project managers or policymakers and trainers or workers in the field of health, water and sanitation, this book brings together a series of short and illustrated introductions to the main technologies and processes in the field of village and community level water and sanitation. Developed and tested over the years, the 32 "appropriate technologies" described here range from household water storage to public standposts, from making soap to eye and skin diseases.;Each short brief concludes with an indication of where to go for more information, and Professor John Pickford sets the scene for the programme and project workers who will find this "ideas tank" invaluable.;Originally published individually in "Waterlines", a magazine devoted to low-cost water and sanitation, this consolidated publication brings together a body of practical information and guidance which appropriately marks the end of the "Water Decade" and the start of the "Health for All by 2000" campaign.