Page 20 RAIN November 1980 Truly appropriate technology can only come from the demahds · of people by whom and for whom it is used, once they realize their own economic and political strength : .. unless the unity of technological and political practice is achieved,·it is unlikely that intermediate technology, on its own; will be able to tackle the rea~ causes ofunderdevelopment, nor bring about a viable solution. , ' (From The Politics of Alternative Technology.} ' • • · In the concluding chapters of Aid as Obstacle and in an earlier publication, Food First (RAIN, IV: 1, 4, 6 and 10), IFDP published a checklist ·of ten questions that individuals and organizations might consider in eyaJuatif!g their own program or one they are consider-. ing supporting. No orga.nization will score perfectly on all ten, but the answers wiH provide valuable food for thought. The most crucial measure, state the authors, is whether the organization per- • ceives its role as that of "going into another country to 'set things right/ or sees it?elf as a supporter of progressive indigenous forces already underway." In regard to A. T. groups, the question might also be asked, does the organization see its work as political as well as technical_in nature, or pu_rely technical? □□ (I , from Aidas Obstacle Ten Questions to Ask about a Development Project 1. Whose project is it? Is !t the donor agency's or Does it originate with the people involved? : 2. Does the project define the problem to be tackled as a technical • or phyisical deficiency (e.g. poor farming methods or depleted soils) that can be overcome with the right technique and skills? or· ~Does it first address the underlying social, econo,mic and political constraints that stand in the way of solving the physical or t-e,,chnical problem? • · . , 3. Does the project strengthen the economic and political position of a certain group, creating a more p.rosperous enclave which then becomes resistant to change that might abolish its privileges? or Does it generate a shift in power to lhe powerless? . _4. 'Does the project focus only on the needs of individuals? or P~es it help individuals who are now powerless to s·ee their common interest with others who are also exploited, thus leading to unified efforts through w1hich collective strength is built? • 5. Does the project merely help individuals adjust to their exploitation by such external forces as th·e national government or the international market? or Does it encourage an understanding of that exploitation and a res~tance to it? • , 6. Do new s.kiUs and information remain only with the leaders? or Does the project involve an ongoing educational process for all the · participants? : · • • • 7. Does the project, through the intervention of outside experts, take away local initiative? • • or Does it generate a process of democratic d~cisionmaking and a thrust toward self-reliance that can carry over to future projects? 8. Does the project reinforce dependence·on outside sources for material and skills? or Does it call forth local ingenuity, loca\i labor and local materials, and can it be maintained with local skills? 9. Will success only be measured.by the achievement of objectives specified at the outset? •. • or Is the projeot open-ended, with'success measured as the project • progresses? • 10. Is the evaluation a one-way process by which the donor judges the recipient's performance? or Is it a two-way (if possible face-to-face) dialogue in which the recipient also evaluates the donor and they together evaluate the project? While still a minority, there are a growing number of organizations who exemplify the philosophy of A. .T. and development de- . scribed above. These groups take a more progr_essive stance in con-. sidering the objectives of their work. Most of these groups focus on communities rather than individuals, depend upon a growing network of local people for th~uccess of their work, and measure that success by its long-term effects: who will this work benefit and how? Will it enable the poor to gain more economic control of increase their exploitation? Some have made the choice to work only in more progressive countries, reasoning that in these countries their efforts will more likely benefit those most in need. This list is by no means exhaustive ... it is.a beginning,of a network of people and organizations that we hope to extend in coming months.
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