A MAJOR goal of poverty alleviation is to improve people's quality of life, and one approach is to develop technology which increases productivity.
But experience shows that adopting modern technology solely for the sake of rapid growth - regardless of whether a technology is suitable for local application or is compatible with the environment - negatively impacts on development.
Therefore, designing 'appropriate technology' has become a subject that Oxfam and other development workers often consider.
'Appropriate Technology' takes into consideration its impact on social groups (especially the impact on women), the environment, indigenous cultures and production efficiency. This technology should also pay attention to fitting in with local human resources and technology.
During my recent trip to Bangladesh, I saw two meaningful examples of appropriate technology promoted by local partner organisations.
Environment-friendly Oven: Most of the Bangladesh villages traditionally used a triangular clay oven for cooking. As this kind of oven has no opening in the back for ventilation, smoke from burning wood is mostly released from the front opening to be inhaled by the user, whose health is affected.