HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT BY APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY IN SOUTHERN COUNTRIES

By Dr. Costantino Faillace
Development Alternatives

As many nations are at present sinking deeply into poverty, an alternative approach to
development should consider to reconciliate the long-term objectives of main projects with the
short-term ones, whose goals should focus in achieving socio-economic impact on the poor
sector of the population.

To achieve a sustainable improvement in the quality of life, especially of the populations of
the southern countries, it is necessary that most nations agree on production methods and in
an environmentally sound life-style. There is a need for a well planned world economy, which
should start by establishing sectorial pilot programs aiming at providing the required
experimental models before reaching global agreement. The key, anyhow, to promote a
sustainable improvement of the quality of life, for the rural as well as for the urban poor, is to
provide guidance and support to NGOs and community-based, grass-root organisations
aiming to promote self-management capability. These two types of groups are better qualified
than government organisations to fight underdevelopment which is characterised by poverty,
illiteracy, corruption, poor health, violence, discrimination against women, lack of planning,
technological gaps.

These two groups, supported by government and international aid organisations, should
promote development by a holistic approach for individuals, society, and the environment. In
this process the following four main aspects of development should be considered:
  • Participation

    People's participation is the most important aspect to a sound development and it should be
    considered in the valorisation of individual potential, in partnership by democratic methods,
    and in fair distribution of profits.
  • Culture

    Development can take place only in respect of people's culture and identity. Organised grass-
    root groups and NGOs have better chances of success in development programs when their
    participation aims also at strengthening people's interest in religious and cultural aspects.
  • Technology

    Improvement of indigenous technology or transfer of successful technology from other areas
    with similar natural and cultural conditions should be encouraged. New long-term sustainable
    technologies should also be developed and implemented, as well as a combination of modern
    and traditional ones.
  • Ecology

    The excessive and unbalanced exploitation of resources cannot, and should not, continue as it
    is occurring in the present. A more appropriate way of life aimed at relieving the pressure on
    the environment is most urgently needed in many countries. To improve the quality of life is a
    long-term environmental process which should be characterised by rescuing, whenever
    possible, jeopardised natural resources and using them wisely.

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