Development approaches: General conclusions, recommendations and summary of the seven thematic studies

The aim of this study is to describe the approaches which encourage or might encourage the development of rural societies in the Third World. The study brings out on the one hand the technologies at present used by these rural societies and their potential for improvement, and on the other hand the new technologies which they can integrate into their development process.

Using numerous examples of projects, often carried out by NGOs, we show how they act in developing old and new technologies, perfecting technical innovations and fitting them into the rural community. (author)

Summary of the seven thematic studies:

1. reafforestation and fuelwood savings;
2. wells and boreholds — replenishment of groundwater resources in the Sahel region;
3. grain storage;
4. processing of oil-bearing crops;
5. alternative building techniques;
6. metalworking; and
7. village savings and credit schemes.