Good Practices and Innovative Experiences in the South

Vol.2 (of 3 volumes): Social Policies, Indigenous Knowledge and Appropriate Technology

Edited by Martin Khor and Lim Li Lin
ISBN: 983-9747-59-2
Year Published: 2001
Co-publishers: Zed Books, UNDP
No. of pages: 216
Price: US$15.00

These volumes constitute a unique, inspiring and practically useful compilation of the rich variety of innovative good parctices being pioneered at governmantal, NGO and community levels in so many Third World countries. They provide a wealth of information on a large number of particular policies, projects and organizations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The 50 cases included focus on economic and environmental policy and practice, including community-based sustainable livelihood projects; social policy, the utilization of indigenous and traditional knowledge, and appropriate technology experiences; and innovative social service delivery and education organizations and experiments.

The project is the result of an initiative by UNDP's Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries. This part of the project was implemented by the Third World Network (TWN), whose secretariat is based in Malaysia. TWN coordinated the selection, research and writing up of the case studies.

The practical importance of this 3-volume collection is to contribute to the process of replication across the South of the best ideas, practices and ways of organizing. These are based on a number of common principles, including respect for local cultures and knowledge systems; genuine harmony with the natural world; quality outcomes of real benefit to local communities and countries; and equity and democratic involvement.

In political terms, this richly variegated and inspiring collection shows us all what some remarkable communities, organizations and governments in the Third World are achieving.

Contents:

Preface

Introduction

Part 1: Social policies

1. Promotion of indigenous systems of medicine in India
2. Provision of public housing in Singapore
3. Model law for the protection of biodiversity knowledge in developing countries
4. Control of private vehicles in urban areas

Part II: Indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices

5. Growing herbal plants in home gardens for health care
6. The traditional Malay house
7. Indigenous agroforestry practices in the Cordillera
8. Rehabilitating indigenous technologies for mud construction

Part III: Appropriate technology

9. Using computer technology to empower the blind
10. Rearing spiders as biological pest-control agents
11. Nadep method of compost manufacture
12. City farming innovations
13. Preparation of neem biopesticides at farm level
14. Water-efficient trench irrigation for horticulture
15. Sulabh Shauchalaya: Low cost sanitation
16. Protecting diversity in rice: Rapid clonal multiplication of rice seed