Training artisans was not enough

The Katopola Agricultural Engineering Centre near Chipata in Zambia provided services relating to vocational training and rural structures. During the 1980s, donor agencies provided nine years' funding including expatriate personnel. School leavers and rural carpenters were taught how to make wooden ox carts, push-carts, wheelbarrows and farm implements. However, there appeared no demand for these, and the carpenters went into furniture production and house carpentry. The project aimed (among other things) to assist rural transport, but despite almost a decade of activity, it had no impact on transport.

• The project had predetermined the wooden technologies to promote. Although the designs were not adopted, alternative technologies were not offered.
• The project addressed one perceived problem (artisan training) but did not assist production or marketing
• The project did no identify and address the problems causing the lack of adoption of the technologies being promoted.

Evaluation lessons from cycle trailers promoted for women in Ghana

In 1991, subsidised cycle trailers were promoted in Northern Ghana. Credit was provided through NGOs. Participants were said to be 'ecstatic'. Workshops in Tamale started production. In 1994, the programme was evaluated. Women reported that cycle trailers were expensive and sales were minimal. Women did not generally use cycles. Strong women's cycles were not available. On the roads, market trucks were used. On footpaths, the trailers did not work well. The trailers were not strong enough for large loads. If loaded, the trailers were heavy to pull. Ordinary bicycles were capable of carrying significant loads and were very flexible at half the price of a cycle/trailer combination. The evaluation revealed that trailers had been promoted as a solution without clear understanding of the social, economic and technical problems and gender issues.
Photo: Cycle trailer in Sri Lanka