Practical Action
{{Short description|UK-based charity}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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|headquarters = The Robbins Building, Albert Street, Rugby, Warwickshire
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Practical Action (previously known as the Intermediate Technology Development Group, ITDG) is a development charity registered in the United Kingdom{{EW charity|247257}} which works directly in four regions of the developing world – Latin America, East Africa, Southern Africa and South Asia, with particular concentration on Peru, Bolivia, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Nepal.
In these countries, Practical Action works with poor communities to develop appropriate technologies in renewable energy, food production, agro-processing, water, sanitation, small enterprise development, building and shelter, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
History
In 1965, economist and philosopher E. F. Schumacher had an article published in The Observer,How to help them help themselves, The Observer, 29 August 1965 pointing out the limitations of aid based on the transfer of large-scale technologies to developing countries which did not have the resources to accommodate them. He argued that there should be a shift in emphasis towards intermediate technologies based on the needs and skills possessed by the people of developing countries.
Schumacher and a few of his associates, including George McRobie, Julia Porter,Obituary: Julia Porter, The Independent, 31 August 1992 [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-julia-porter-1580531.html] Alfred Latham-Koenig and Professor Mansur Hoda, decided to create an "advisory centre" to promote the use of efficient labour-intensive techniques, and in 1966 the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) was born.{{cite web | title =Practical Action history| date = | url = http://practicalaction.org/history | accessdate =2015-07-21}}[http://cje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/12/16/cje.ber035.abstract Toye, J (2011) "The world improvement plans of Fritz Schumacher", Camb. J. Econ. 36(2)]{{dead link|date=May 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
From its origins as a technical enquiry service, ITDG began to take a greater direct involvement in local projects. Following initial successes in farming, it developed working groups on energy, building materials and rural health, and soon grew to become an international organisation. The group now has seven regional offices, working on over 100 projects around the world, with a head office in the UK.
In July 2005, ITDG changed its working name to Practical Action, and since 2008 this has been its legal name.{{Cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://practicalaction.org/who-we-are/ |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Practical Action |language=en-GB}} The organisation produces a triannual magazine entitled 'Small World'.
See also
- Small Is Beautiful – a book by Schumacher
- Tools for Self Reliance
References
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Category:Appropriate technology organizations
Category:Rural community development
Category:Charities based in Warwickshire
Category:Foreign charities operating in Bangladesh
Category:Foreign charities operating in Bolivia
Category:Foreign charities operating in Kenya
Category:Foreign charities operating in Nepal
Category:Foreign charities operating in Peru
Category:Foreign charities operating in Sudan
Category:Foreign charities operating in Zimbabwe
Category:Development charities
Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom
Category:Development charities based in the United Kingdom
Category:Charities operating in another country
Category:Renewable energy organizations
Category:Climate change organisations based in the United Kingdom
Category:1966 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Foreign aid to Africa
Category:Technology organizations
Category:1960s in the United Kingdom
Category:1960s in Southern Rhodesia
Category:1960s in Southeast Asia
Category:1960s in South West Africa
Category:1966 in the United Kingdom
Category:1960s in East Pakistan
Category:Non-governmental organizations
Category:International organisations based in the United Kingdom
Category:Magazines established in 1966