Readily available technologies in low-resource communities: a review and synthesis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Socioeconomic changes in recent years have forced a shift in focus from resource abundance to resource scarcity and from top-down solutions to bottom-up, community-driven solutions. Consequently, novel research has emerged on how resource-scarce communities innovate by leveraging readily available technologies that are more accessible and affordable than other technologies. This paper presents a scoping literature review on the role of Readily Available Technologies (RATs) in Low-Resource Communities (LRCs) and identifies knowledge gaps as well as future research opportunities. We analyzed 49 articles published in relevant, high-quality journals between 2010 and 2021. We propose a framework illustrating the interactions among RATs, community actors in LRCs, and contextual factors. Through a theoretical framework, this article raises awareness about how practitioners utilize RATs in various LRC contexts to facilitate community and economic development. It lays the foundation for future theoretical and empirical development and provides guidance to practitioners for fostering RAT-driven community development.