Organizations

About Howtopedia

Who we are?
A non-profit organization based in Zurich, Switzerland.

Our Vision
The vision behind howtopedia is the belief in an autonomous, alternative development through the diffusion of simple technologies and practical knowledge. We believe that each individual should have at his reach tools and information for empowerment.
Internet is a powerful media, which more and more people are aware of as an inestimable source of information. The specific resource for development aid is increasing constantly, but there is a need for a one-stop information place addressed to the broad public.

Our Mission
Our objective is to become the reference for people looking for resources for empowerment. We promote simple technologies in all areas of daily life.
howtopedia focuses on a bottom-up strategy. It collects and disseminates self-help resources and know-how in order to facilitate the local self-organization worldwide.

Simple technologies

• Cause minimal cost
• Use local materials
• Require minimal skills
• Are easy to maintain
• Protect the environment and comply with the principle of sustainability
• Are solution-oriented
• Help acquire new skills

Core tasks
howtopedia’s central activities are:

• The propagation and promotion of simple technologies
• The collection of knowledge in the field of simple technologies and practical knowledge
• The exchange of knowledge, and knowledge transfer between organizations, research institutes, innovators and individuals
• Promoting the innovation
• Facilitating access to information, especially in transitional and developing countries
• The recruitment of new users

Means
howtopedia provides an Internet platform that can be exploited as an open online library by registered organizations and individuals across borders. Its content is the result of collaborative work and it acts as an interface between information providers and users. howtopedia pursues information control.

How to take part to our project
You can participate by :

• Sharing your experience by writing or translating articles. Contact us to get a user name and editing rights
• Inform us about free of right information sources
• Using the site and talking about it
• Sending us your feedback about the website or your story at info@howtopedia.org
• Or help us financialy for hardware, software, maintenance and communication expenses. Support howtopedia!

If you would like to publish an article but do not have time, e-maill us your project page link, or send the documents and we will add your project page to our library.

Financing
howtopedia is committed to not-for-profit principles. The work of the association is supported by staff and volunteers from Switzerland and worldwide. The funding is achieved through membership fees, donations and contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, governmental and international organizations. However, howtopedia accepts contributions only if full independence in conducting the projects is guaranteed.

How to contact us

• info at howtopedia.org (de, en, es, fr, it, pt, tr)

// Howtopedia // Maud Châtelet // Langstrasse 193 // 8004 Zürich // Switzerland // 00 41 76 422 3003

Special thanks
We would like to thank especially Practical Action and INTI for their confidence and their support.

We need your support to finance the project. Any help is very welcomed: Support howtopedia!

Many Thanks to all of you.

Partner Organisations

The following organizations are partnering with howtopedia and contribute to the constrctuction of the library:

INTI

INTI is the International Network for Technical Information which was founded in 1998. The main objective of the network is to create a synergy to improve the services provided through co-operation and mutual support. It links significant European institutions which are providing technical information mainly in the fields of agriculture and nutrition, veterinary medicine, energy, water and sanitation, building, textiles and training. INTI supports organisations in the south to run local inquiry services by capacity building and by answering very specific questions

Generally, INTI is not restricted to European groups but is open to all information services whose technical focus is on so-called appropriate technologies.

INTI members aspire:

• to improve the exchange of information in the field of technical enquiries,
• to increase knowledge and skills,
• to save resources by the exchange of materials,
• to link development work,
• to increase the impact of the question and answer services.

Contact

http://www.inti-online.org/

INTI Members

Agromisa Centre for Small-Scale Sustainable Agriculture
http://www.gcw.nl/kiosk/agrodok/default.cfm
http://www.agromisa.org/

DIO - Diergeneeskunde In Ontwikkelingssamenwerking
Foundation for Veterinary Medicine in Developing Cooperation
http://www.dio.nl/

WOT - Working Group On Development Techniques
http://www.wot.utwente.nl

GATE-GTZ - German Appropriate Technology Exchange - German Agency for Technical Cooperation
http://www.gtz.de/gate

TaT - Transferzentrum für angepasste Technologien Gmbh
Transfer Centre For Appropriate Technologies
http://www.tat-zentrum.de

FAKT Beratung für Management, Bildung und Technologien GmbH
http://www.fakt-consult.de

HDRA - Henry Doubleday Research Association - The organic association Ryton Organic Gardens
http://www.hdra.org.uk

Practical Action The Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development
http://www.practicalaction.org

Practical Action

Practical Action was founded in 1966, as ITDG (the Intermediate Technology Development Group), by the economist Dr EF Schumacher according to his philosophy of ‘Small is Beautiful’ to bring real and sustainable improvements to people’s lives.

Practical Action has a specific approach to development – not to start with technology, but with people. The tools may be simple or sophisticated – but to provide long-term, appropriate and practical answers, they must be firmly in the hands of local people: people who shape technology and control it for themselves.

Using technology to change the world

Practical Action believes that the right idea – however small – can change lives. It can create jobs, improve health and livelihoods, and help people have better lives. That's why, since 1966, Practical Action has been working with poor people to develop the skills and technology that will enable them to build a better future.

http://www.practicalaction.org
The Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development, Bourton on Dunsmore, RUGBY, CV23 9QZ, United Kingdom.
Tel.: +44 (0) 1926 634400, Fax: +44 (0) 1926 634401
e-mail: practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk

Prolinnova

PROmotting Local INNOVAtion

PROLINNOVA est un programme international facilité par les ONGs pour la promotion de l’innovation locale et les processus participatifs de développement de l’innovation. L’accent est mis sur la reconnaissance de la dynamique des connaissances indigènes et l’apprentissage sur la manière de renforcer les capacités des utilisateurs des ressources au niveau local afin de s’adapter aux conditions changeantes : développer et adapter leurs propres systèmes appropriés et leurs institutions de gestion des ressources pour une sécurité alimentaire assurée, des moyens d’existences soutenus et un environnement protégé.

PROLINNOVA cherche à :

• Montrer l’efficacité de l’innovation conduite par les utilisateurs pour un développement durable.
• Bâtir un partenariat efficace entre paysans, chercheurs et vulgarisateurs.
• Renforcer les capacités des paysans, chercheurs, vulgarisateurs et décideurs en approches participatives et celles des formateurs qui peuvent ainsi continuer la facilitation du processus.
• Insérer les approches participatives de l’innovation et expérimentation paysannes dans les structures de recherche, de vulgarisation et d’éducation.
• Piloter des mécanismes de financement décentralisé pour promouvoir l’innovation locale.
• Stimuler le dialogue politique aux niveaux national et régional afin de favoriser l’innovation locale.
• Mettre en place des plates-formes de réflexion, d’analyse et d’apprentissage sur la promotion de l’innovation locale.

https://www.prolinnova.net

RESEDA, Réseau pour le Développement de l’Artisanat

The RESEDA is a non-profit, a-political and a-confessionnal organisation created the 10th of May 2001.

It is a concertation network between NGOs, associations and privates some of them companies.

Information, exchange, formation and support for an harmonious and sustainable development of micro- and small entreprises.

The RESEDA is linked with the SYRENE (Systèmes Ruraux et Micro Entreprise) and is the following of PROFORMAR

More in the french version of this article

Contact

RESEDA
BP 12719, Niamey, Niger – Tél. +227 20371001 - fax +227 20371002 - NIF 6999
www.niger-ue.net

Article 25 Development and Disaster Relief

Article 25 Development and Disaster Relief is the new name for the charity Architects for Aid. a[25] is a UK-based charity focused on designing, building, and managing built projects that provide better shelter wherever there is disaster, poverty, or need. a[25] works alongside aid organisations, (i)NGOs, and communities around the world. The a[25] mission is to bring experienced, field-appropriate professional expertise and academically rigorous research findings in building-related work, to NGOs and charities in the shelter sector. The a[25] role is the responsible stewardship of the building process from start to finish.

As a complement to field-based work, a[25] also collaborates with practitioners, universities, and organisations on research projects targeted towards testing and applying innovative and cost-effective technologies in disaster relief and devlepment. As part of this educational mission, a[25] has also created the first ever industry recognised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses in humanitarian architecture. The goal is to build a platform where best practices can be shared and applied across regions and where professionals can discuss, contribute and share skills, knowledge, and new technologies with the professional community.This is why a[25] supports howtopedia./

Link

http://www.article-25.org

Contact

Article 25
13-21 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3LU, UK

O: +44 (0) 207 375 0144

EWB Engineers Without Borders -Uni Karlsruhe

Engineers without borders (EWB) University of Karlsruhe participates in activities in the range of international co-operation with developing countries and other organisations pursuing similar goals. EWB is an institution, which is already active in Spain, France, Belgium, England, Italy, Canada and the USA. In Germany (Marburg) the association Ingenieure ohne Grenzen was created two years ago (IOG Marburg). There are further Groups in Berlin and Stuttgart.
The University group EWB Uni Karlsruhe is developing own activities in two main directions:

Co-operation : Co-operation is implemented either by work in the development country ( as part of a final thesis or a practical period abroad) and direct contact with the local people or by co-operation on different levels between universities and institutes abroad.

Education : The educational part covers technical aspects and topics connected to the development and research of alternative and suitable technologies for developing countries.

The substantial emphasis of EWB is the transfer of technology and knowledge in the technical-scientific range to developing countries. The concept of appropriate technology means that adapted technological decisions have to be made with respect to the environmental and sociocultural background of the affected country and local community.

The registration as well as the participation in EWB activities is voluntarily.

EWB is integrated into the university environment, which is the main center of their activities and contacts. Therefore, EWB especially approaches all people with a scientific or technical background like students, professors, researchers, engineers (and not only engineers!!)

Activities
At present, EWB Uni Karlsruhe is busy with the following activities:

• Definition of the structure and national and international co-ordination with other EWB groups
  

• Organisation and participation in seminars, design planning, publicity work and documentation
  

• Establishing contacts to other universities and institutes worldwide
  

• Planning of two projects in Sri Lanka
  

• Support and execution of projects in development countries, in particular engineering assistance and consulting (e.g. within the range of water supply and disposal, power supply, road construction...)
  

http://www.ewb.uni-karlsruhe.de
http://www.ewb.uni-karlsruhe.de/Howtopedia.htm

IRC

IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre

News and information, advice, research and training, on low-cost water supply and sanitation in developing countries.
IRC website

Scientifical Online Libraries on Agriculture and Technology

AJOL African Journals Online: database of over 175 digitised African journals.
http://www.ajol.info

AGLINET Agricultural Libraries Network
http://www.fao.org/library/_Info_ServicesEN/aglinetEN.htm

AGORA Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture
http://www.aginternetwork.

AGRIS International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology
http://www.fao.org/agris

@SIC Archive ouverte en sciences de l'information et de la communication
http://archivesic.ccsd.cnrs.fr

Bioline International
http://www.bioline.org.br/

CABI Information for Development Program
http://www.cabi.org/datapage.asp?iDocID=234

'CGVlibrary CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
http://vlibrary.cgiar.org

Dgroups
http://www.dgroups.org

EIFL Electronic Information for Libraries
http://www.eifl.net/

EOLSS Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems
http://www.eolss.net/

Google Scholar
http://scholar.google.

GDNet's. Free Journals Access Portal For Social Sciences
http://www.gdnet.org/online_services/journals/gdn_journal_services/index.html

HINARI Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative
http://www.who.int/hinari/en/?lang=en

IAALD International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists
http://www.iaald.org

ICT Update http://www.ictupdate.cta.int

iNARS Forum Information and Agricultural Services http://www.dgroups.org/groups/iNARS

INASP International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications
http://www.inasp.info/

INFOTECScientific and Technological Information System for the Agricultural Sector in the Americas
http://www.infotec.ws
http://www.infoagro.net/infotec

ISTEC Ibero-American Science and Technology Education Consortium
http://www.istec.org/

INIST Institute for Scientific and Technical Information
Open Access to Scientific and Technical Information
http://www.inist.fr/openaccess/index.htm

PERI Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information
http://www.inasp.info/peri/index.html

Scidev
http://www.scidev.net

SIST Système d'information scientifique et technique
www.sistsciencesdev.net/index.html

SIDALC
http://orton.catie.ac.cr/defaulten.htm

TEEAL The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library
http://www.teeal.org

USAIN United States Agricultural Information Network
http://usain.org/developingresources.html

Other WIKI's

• MakerWiki.com
• Hoemoetdatdan.nl Dutch site with movies which show how to do things. Possibility to upload your own movies.
• how-2.tv Howto site with movies which show how to do things. Possibility to upload your own movies.
• appropedia.org Appropedia is an open library wiki, focused on two core initiatives: Reducing poverty through International Development and increasing sustainability through the use of Appropriate Technology
• http://www.infobridge.org Infobridge is a shared repository with information on organisations, projects, experts as well as many documents and good practicies in the area of agriculture, NRM, ICT4D.Possibility to manage and upload own information.
• The NewWays Community cultivates practical ideas to support social equality, environmental sustainability, and conscious consumption towards a balanced ecology and economy. Check out our short video on how NewWays can work for you!