Böcker utgivna av Practical Action Publishing

Neil Thin sets out to clarify the meaning of the social dimensions of development, with an emphasis on sustainability. He outlines a conceptual framework to facilitate better communication and understanding as a basis for improved policies, implementation strategies and learning strategies. Thin reviews the concepts of social development as currently used in policy documents, operational work, theoretical texts, and monitoring and evaluation. He relates the meaning of social development to core concepts of sustainable development, and to other specific concepts such as the economy and the environment as well as more closely related categories such as social sectors, social welfare and social security. His conclusion is that social development would be more useful as a category of policy and practice if it were relinked with the concept of society and with positive efforts to build or facilitate social progress. Neil Thin draws on his recent research and advisory work on social development policy, poverty reduction strategies, human rights assessment, and evaluation and learning strategies for the analysis and examples.

The manual details major camel diseases and conditions with the disease signs, its causes, and simple prevention and treatment methods. Both scientific and tried and tested traditional treatments are presented, thus enabling the veterinarian or livestock practitioner to make the most appropriate choice in the prevailing circumstances.

This handbook provides practical help in choosing whether to, and how to build with earth, from soil selection to construction and maintenance. Earth can achieve very high quality and durability as a building material. It is also frequently used by people with few other resources for building. In many countries earth is associated with poverty, and is not thought of as a high quality and durable material. Much effort in recent decades has gone into giving earth building the technical and social credibility that it deserves. Today earth building successfully meets both modern and traditional building needs. It has also retained its advantage of responding to the requirements of both the rich and the poor. The techniques described in the revised and updated second edition of this book have a focus on maintaining this balance, and on achieving good quality results with accessible methods.

Its methods are targeted to housing production in places where resources are scarce, demand is high, urgency is acute, and where change and uncertainty are a way of life. The book shows that, under these conditions, efficient practice depends on methods that promote rather than hinder local action.

This revised handbook brings together the practical experiences of engineers in the field and of research programmes testing bamboo. The author shows how bamboo can be harvested, seasoned and jointed to form walls, doors and windows, roofs, floors, ceilings, roof trusses and bridges, and how to weave bamboo.

An introduction to small-scale non-ferrous casting. Includes step-by-step instructions on how to make equipment using local materials; and provides information on moulding techniques, pattern making, core making, the use of wax and metal preparation.

This second edition of the classic title on practical energy provision for isolated houses and remote locations has now been updated with a new chapter. Pumps as Turbine is a practical handbook for engineers and technicians involved in designing and installing small water-power schemes.

This book shows how to provide effective training in food processing, which can open up opportunities for individuals who lack business experience. It explains the importance of needs assessment, course preparation, monitoring and follow-up, and the value of practical work and opportunities for trainers to discuss their ideas and discoveries.

This book examines the management of policy implications for pastoral development in dryland areas. The contributors examine the consequences of living with uncertainty for pastoral development planning, range and fodder management, drought responses, livestock marketing, resource tenure, institutional development and pastoral administration.

A guide to good-quality thatching, describing in words and pictures how to achieve the maximum possible roof-life using either cultivated or naturally-occurring materials. Reviews the advantages and limitations of thatch as a roofing technique.

This book focuses on participatory capacity-building in ways that address the practical needs and strategic interests of the disadvantaged and disempowered - it examines how differences in class, ethnicity, race, caste, religion, age and gender lead to the 'politics of exclusion'.

This book provides a concise guide to all the essential steps for setting up wind business services in developing countries. It deals with all the key aspects of promoting wind energy for domestic end uses, as well as giving a guide to needs assessment, resource assessment, the economics of small wind machines and technology choice.

This book gives many proved and practical ways of getting the transformation process started. Book 4 focuses on five issues which have become more prominent in the concerns of communities throughout the world: the environment; gender and development; ethnic and racial conflict; intercultural understanding; building participatory governance.

A comprehensive and illustrated handbook which will be essential reading for anyone involved in construction. Earth is extremely versatile and cheap but users must have a proper knowledge of its real potential in order to use it to its best effect.

Guides the reader systematically through the basic methods of hydrology and site survey and describes how to set up an appropriate scheme, with detailed technical information; also covers the essential economic considerations and maintenance requirements.

This book provides an insight into development project planning and management by guiding the reader, chapter by chapter, through the stages from concept to completion.

The recent trend of participatory approaches presents challenges to those working in the development sector. Who Changes? draws together, for the first time, lessons and experiences from key development agencies around the globe on the institutional change needed to make participation a reality. The book explores the main issues and concerns of development professionals involved in PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) practices: adapting PRA methods from micro to macro organizations and the type of changes required by an organization to implement PRA effectively. In addition, the reader is provided with a checklist of practical considerations to guide them through this complex field: training programmes and training needs for all those involved in the participation programme, implementing projects from piloting stages to gradual scaling up, institutional change and the changing cultures and procedures of hierarchical organizations, and participatory monitoring and evaluation. Containing highly readable accounts and clear summaries by development workers from a variety of development settings across the globe, Who Changes? will be a valuable asset to all development professionals concerned with PRA approaches from fieldworkers to practitioners and policy makers.

The book contains over 1,200 drawings relating to a wide range of educational and health issues, along with advice on copying, enlarging, changing illustrations to make them appropriate to a particular situation, without using special equipment, with advice on pre-testing materials, to make sure they are understood by the intended audience.

The artisanal mining of alluvial gold is an extremely common small mining activity in many countries. This is a comprehensive and practical guide aimed at filling a need for improved goldmining techniques.

Step-by-step instructions on designing, installing and operating water supply systems based on hydraulic ram pumps. With illustrations and diagrams, and details of a pump designed for local manufacture and notes for those developing their own model.

Farmer First presents a new paradigm and methods for agricultural research. Starting with farmers' own capacity for innovation, contributors from the agricultural and social sciences, ecology, economics and geography make the case for a farmer-first mode to complement the traditional transfer of technology.

Development professionals now need new approaches and methods for interacting, learning and knowing. Through analysing experience - of past mistakes and myths, and of the continuing methodological revolution of PRA (participatory rural appraisal) - the author points towards solutions.

Three volumes designed to assist workers in the field who are encouraging the development of self-reliant creative communities. The book has as its basic philosophy the belief that we should all participate in making this world a more just place to live in.

The book is aimed both at HIV/AIDS workers who are interested in NGO programmes, and about NGO workers who want to explore what NGOs can do to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS.

This book brings together important aspects of both the technological and business skills needed to successfully start and operate a small food processing business. The emphasis is on thorough planning before the enterprise is established and then careful control of production to minimize costs and maintain the desired product quality. The book is a training aid for extension workers and small enterprise development organizations.Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU)The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) was establishedin 1983 under the Lome Convention between the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific)Group of States and the European Union Member States. Since 2000 it has operatedwithin the framework of the ACP-EC Cotonou Agreement. CTA''s tasks are to developand provide services that improve access to information for agricultural and ruraldevelopment, and to strengthen the capacity of ACP countries to produce, acquire,exchange and utilise information in this area. CTA''s programmes are organised aroundfour principal themes: developing information management and partnership strategiesneeded for policy formulation and implementation; promoting contact and exchange ofexperience; providing ACP partners with information on demand; and strengtheningtheir information and communication capacities.CTA, Postbus 380, 6700 AJ Wageningen, The Netherlands