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External
Agents in PTD
There are a number of roles which external agents - be they AT organizations
in the North or South, other NGOs, technical specialists, governments or local
authorities - can play in a Participatory Technology Development (PTD) process,
if they recognise that the basic goals of PTD are empowerment and equity. Not
all roles are relevant or necessary in all circumstances: the following list
covers a range of possible interventions.
External agents are not a homogenous group: donors, engineers, and
intermediary organizations (for example) will all have different skills to
offer, and different priorities. Work in PTD in agriculture indicates that
possible roles can fall under four broad and occasionally overlapping headings:
facilitator, networker, educator, and co-researcher.
[Facilitator] [Networker]
[Educator] [Co-researcher]
- offer support in the strengthening of local diagnostic skills (identifying
problems or bottlenecks) whether or not the problems are technical.
- where useful and possible, help with the analysis of how desired change
may be facilitated by technology.
- be prepared to support the community in tackling issues of power and
vested interests where these are factors in the changes that are needed.
[Facilitator] [Networker]
[Educator] [Co-researcher]
- strengthen local capacity to obtain and use technical or other
information, both from inside and outside the area.
- strengthen local technical capacity through the sharing of appropriate
external information.
- translate technical needs identified by local people into performance
specifications for suppliers.
- help to facilitate the formation of necessary links between those wanting
change, and the markets, R&D institutions, and other sources of
knowledge, both nationally and regionally.
[Facilitator] [Networker]
[Educator] [Co-researcher]
- support local skills in the identification of necessary changes, and
possible solutions.
- where possible, help to widen the range of methods and solutions
available.
- be prepared to offer advice when asked, but also to withdraw when not
needed.
[Facilitator] [Networker]
[Educator] [Co-researcher]
- help identify the appropriate non-technical skills that are needed.
- recognize and help to strengthen local specifically technical skills in
experimentation and adaptation, if necessary by supporting risk.
[Facilitator] [Networker]
[Educator] [Co-researcher]
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