Practical Action Publishing
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Women and the Transport of Water
The haulage of water is one of the most arduous and time-consuming tasks of rural women, and this paper looks at the scale of the problem in general and in particular in Kenya, suggesting ways in which improved methods of transport could help.
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No Condition Permanent
The struggles and successes in achieving acceptance of new, small-scale technologies in Ghana.
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Rainwater Harvesting
This book emphasizes the importance of social, economic, and environmental considerations when planning and implementing projects. For rural development workers, it aims to fill the gap in existing literature on the gathering and storage of rainwater.
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Rural Vulnerability to Famine in Ethiopia
Prescriptions for rural development abound, but ‘what is frequently lacking is not so much ideas or techniques as the will and the commitment’ to improve conditions. The author describes how, in the complex case of Ethiopia, man can be held responsible for famine –and suggests how he can act to prev...
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Scrap Metal Recovery
A case study of the development of a small business in Papua New Guinea involved in recovering a range of scrap, non-ferrous metals. An income-generating opportunity for hundreds of shanty town dwellers.
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Small-scale Soapmaking
Making soap in the context of protracted economic difficulties has meant not only the development of a simple method that could meet rural conditions, but one that could survive the temperament of the wildly fluctuating marketplace as well. Peter Donkor’s book describes the development of soapmakin...
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Planning the Project
This is the first in a series of four related books. It deals with the thinking, planning and preparation that should take place before production of material begins. Whatever kind of material it is, it will take time and money. Producers will therefore want it to be worth the effort, and to do the...
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Printing Processes
This book gives information about printing processes relevant to small-scale production units. It concentrates on methods that can be used on your own premises, without a high degree of technical training. It aims to give useful but general information; for more specific details and for how-to-do-it...
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Rural Transport in Developing Countries
An important and wide-ranging survey of transport policies in developing countries, illustrated by nine case-studies.
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Small Hydro Power in China
An account of how the Chinese achieved a long-term programme to provide rural areas with electricity. Contains lessons for other countries faced with energy provision problems.