Treadle Pumps

A treadle pump is a human-powered low-cost pump designed to lift shallow water sources for irrigation.

The Hidden Energy Crisis

Teodoro Sanchez

Billions of people worldwide are without access to clean, modern energy, which leads to drudgery, ill health and sometimes death. Although a lack of adequate energy affects people's health and well-being, as well as their productive and educational capacities, addressing this deficit is a low priori...

Making Good Local Governance Grow

Patrick Robinson, Sara Wehrli

"Making Good Governance Grow" presents experiences of participatory natural resource management based on four case studies from Helvetas projects in Bhutan, Guatemala, Mali and the Dominican Republic. The approach considers how to involve the local population in the sustainable management and sharin...

Climate Change and Gender Justice

Geraldine Terry

Climate change is often framed as a problem that needs mainly technical and economic solutions. Climate Change and Gender Justice considers how gender issues are entwined with people’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change, and how gender identities and roles may affect women’s and men’s pe...

Recycling Plastics: Starting a business

An introduction to plastic recycling looking at the reasons for recycling and the practicalities of small-scale businesses.

Serpentine Solar Water Heating: Guidelines for Fabrication

The Serpentine is a solar thermal collector developed as part of a low cost water heating system by the AIDG for households in Xela, Guatemala.

Understanding Climate Change Adaptation

Jonathan Ensor, Rachel Berger

Poor people bear the brunt of climate change since they live in those regions most affected by fluctuating temperatures, sea level rise, flooding and drought. Far from behaving as victims, however, they use the assets and resources at their disposal to adapt and survive. How can agencies assist loca...

Recycling Used Lead Acid Batteries

Batteries are used whenever electrical energy is needed and are common around the world, but they can be harmful to the environment.

Micro-Hydro Power

This brief looks at micro-hydro power, the various types of turbine, and the economics.

Serpentine Solar Water Heating Build Manual

Manual for building serpentine solar water heating system with the basic of installation guides and a list of component materials.