Mobilizing Technology for Developing Countries

Abstract

A new problem in technology policy-a discipline hitherto largely concerned with the modern industrial sector-is posed by the need for technology suited to creating productive jobs and providing minimum public services at a cost and level of sophistication within the reach of poor people in developing countries. Careful consideration must be given to overall and sectoral development objectives, economic and manpower resources, and the local institutional and sociocultural context. This may indicate the need for both hardware innovation, such as low-cost alternatives to waterborne sewerage, and social ("software") innovation, such as training large numbers of supervisors to implement improved technologies for labor-intensive civil works.