28.5 Technology and Human Development Give a man a fi sh and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fi sh and you feed him for life.
Providing a developing country with ‘ intermediate technology ’, or appropriate technology, can help its human development. Intermediate technology is the middle way between high technology, which might not be suitable for a developing economy, and low technology. It can be used to solve complicated problems for developing countries using cheap and readily available materials. The aim is to help people move away from a dependency on aid to being self-sufficient. Intermediate technology can be used to improve health services, farming techniques and water supplies for a developing country.
The photograph shows an example of intermediate technology. The people of this community were assisted in using materials readily available to them to make a water pump. This pump brings water from a nearby river and is used to irrigate crops. This provides them with a sustainable food source as well as a product to sell.
Question Time
1. List four ways in which Irish Aid is helping human development in Africa. 2. Explain two of these ways in detail. 3. Explain two advantages and two disadvantages of aid.
4. Examine the photo above and name the intermediate technology that has been created. Identify the ready-made materials used to make this piece of technology.