A cement material, or binder, is an essential ingredient in most forms of building construction. Portland cement has become a widely accepted cementitious material, but it is more expensive than other binders and unsuited to small-scale production. In addition, although it is stronger than most alternatives, there are uses for which alternatives such as lime are more suited. Lime is versatile, durable and suitable for use in complex and intricate decorative and restoration work, as well as in simple buildings. If greater strength is required, a variety of materials known as pozzolanas can be added to the lime. Examples of pozzolanas include rice husk ash, brick dust and certain types of naturally occurring volcanic ash. The most successful material in any area depends on local primary resources and the development of appropriate technology. Lime gypsum and lime pozzolanas could be reintroduced successfully if more information were available and appropriate building standards enforced. This book brings together expert knowledge from around the world about the use of different alternative binders, presenting case histories which demonstrate the successes and the pitfalls, as well as practical information based on experience. A recurring theme in the book is the need to work towards the wider acceptance of lime, and alternative binders by: establishing realistic performance standards for alternative cements and getting these standards accepted in international, national and local building codes and standards. Establishing simple testing procedures to measure compliance with these performance standards; holding seminars and training courses and compiling case study material on existing production and use; and, initiating research and development projects of a practical nature.

• Preface 7
• Acknowledgements 8
• Introduction 9
• 1 Credit interventions: context and history 15
• Macroeconomy and policy environment
• Experience with rural credit schemes
• Summary
• 2 Women's work and income 23
• Household based production
• Control over income
• Reproductive work
• The importance of self-employment
• Characteristics of women's enterprises
• Dynamics and development patterns of women's enterprises
• Summary
• 3 Women and finance 33
• Savings
• Decision making and place in production
• Possibilities, problems and consequences of finance
• Summary
• 4 Informal finance 43
• Informal finance sources
• Self-finance and loans from relatives and friends
• Rotating and non-rotating funds
• Moneylenders and pawnbrokers
• Wholesale traders and shopkeepers
• Sharecropping arrangements
• Summary
• 5 Development programmes and 'semi-formal' 53
• financial institutions
• Credit within multiple service programmes
• Income generating projects for women
• Rotating and revolving funds
• Savings and credit unions and cooperatives
• Peoples' banks
• Summary
• 6 Women and the formal financial system 69
• Formal financial institutions and poor women
• Barriers and possible solutions: a challenge to banks
• Risk reduction
• Transaction costs and incentives to banks
• Long-term access to and sustainability of financial services
• The performance of financial institutions
• Summary
• Epilogue 87
• Appendix 1: Gender 91
• Appendix 2: Symposium participants 93
• Appendix 3: Symposium papers 95
• Bibliography 97
• 6 FINANCING

Neville Hill

Stafford Holmes Stafford Holmes is a United Kingdom based professional architect not only with great enthusiasm for lime but also with much knowledge and experience. He has made inputs into projects in many different countries and has been involved with various groups promoting the use of lime.

David Mather