VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance
Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) was a US-based private, nonprofit, international development organization that worked for 42 years helping to empower the poor and fostering self-sufficiency in developing countries, with emphasis on appropriate small-scale technologies for agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, water supply and sanitation, housing and construction, small business development. VITA's worldwide roster of volunteer technical experts responded to thousands of technical inquiries from around the world on development issues and problems each year.
From the Enterprise Works website:
Fighting poverty with profit. For more than 40 years in 100 countries, EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV) has worked to combat poverty by helping small producers and other entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that create jobs and increase productivity, market opportunities and incomes. EWV achieves this by expanding access to appropriate technologies, technical assistance, knowledge and finance.
In 2005 VITA merged with EnterpriseWorks, a Washington (DC) based international non-profit organization that works with small business development programs. In July 2009 EnterpriseWorks/VITA announced a merger with Relief International.[1]
In 2009 Enterprise Works/VITA merged with Relief International, "a humanitarian non-profit agency that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, development assistance, and program services to vulnerable communities worldwide".
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This is a series published in the 1980s by Volunteers in Technical Assistance to provide an introduction to specific state-of-the-art technologies of interest to people in developing countries. The papers are intended to be used as guidelines to help people choose technologies that are suitable...
- Also available in:
- Français (fr)
- Español (es)
- English (en)
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19-01-1979 This book is based on a system developed by AITEC and tested over two years in 860 villages as part of a contract with the Costa Rican Government. It reflects our goals of popular participation and employment generation through the stimulation of very small business enterprises and small farms by...
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This manual will enable the reader to assess the possibility and desirability of installing a small hydroelectric power plant, select the type of machinery most suitable for installation, and order turbine and generating equipment. It will also serve as a guide in actual construction and...
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This book discusses grain storage problems as they are faced by small-scale farmers. It contains explanations of the sturcture of grain, the relationship between grain and moisture, the need for proper drying. One large section contains detailed, fully illustrated plans for constructing a variety...
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01-03-1983 25 pages, illustrated
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09-01-1976 This is the third in a set of how-to manuals that together provide a comprehensive overview of storage problems and considerations as they relate to the small farmer. Vol 3 is a survey of storage facilties from the most traditional basket-type granary to metal bins and cement silos with emphasis...
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01-01-1977 This manual details the construction of the Savonius rotor. Included in the manual are a two-stage rotorsfor pumping water and a three-stage rotor designed to charge automobile batteries. 53 pages, illustrated
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01-01-1975 An inexpensive home-made stove for burning loose sawdust is described. The stove, which is in common use in other parts of the world, can heat a room 20 feet square for 6 to 10 hours without tending. VITA Tech Bulletin 51029-BK
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Small Farm Grain Storage: Enemies of Stored Grain, Vol. 2 (Appropriate Technologies for Development)
09-01-1976 This is the second in a set of three how-to manuals that together provide a comprehensive overview of storage problems and considerations as they relate to the small farmer. Vol 2 is is an in-depth study of two major enemies: insects and rodents. 169 pages, illustrations -
Freshwater Fish Pond Culture and Management is a how-to-manual. It is designed as a working and teaching tool for extension agents. It is for their use as they establish and/or maintain local fish pond operations.
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This manual is designed for development assistance workers and others who are planning or managing small-scale livestock projects. Although aimed specifically at those working in less-developed areas of the tropics and subtropics, these environmental guidelines apply to almost any region of the...
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Waste oil is a refined petroleum product, which with special handling has considerable potential as an alternative fuel source. THe oven design in this bulletin makes use of waste oil without preheating or mixing with other, more expensive fuels.
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This manual has been written for community development workers in Thrid World countries who are not technicians in the area of forestry, but who want some general guidelines for planning environmentally sound small-scale forestry projects.
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01-01-1980 This manual discusses how to decide if this will meet the need, pre-construction considerations and construction of a overshot waterwheel. No page numbers, illustrated
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01-01-1980 This Volunteers in Technical Assistance booklet is a manual on how to construct a 3 cubic meter biogas plant. It is intended for use in international development projects. 53 pages, illustrated
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Key Resource 01-01-1976 This Peace Corps book provides information on the challenges of grain storage including drying methods, insects, rodents, moisture meters, and waterproofing. No page numbers, illustrated 2 copies
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Key Resource 01-04-1985 Root crops is a general term commonly used for a wide variety of food plants that have an underground storage organ known as a root, tuber (rhizome), corm, or bulb. Root crops are rich in starch, and low in protein and oil. They are excellent sources of calories. Some are consumed as major...
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01-01-1980 This book is one of a series of manuals on renewable energy technologies. It is primarily intended for use by people in international development projects. The construction techniques and ideas presented here are, however, useful to anyone seeking to become energy self-sufficient. 80 pages,...
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06-01-1980 This book on making charcoal by the retort method is primarily for people in international development. It includes information on construction, operation, and maintenance when using the retort method. 27 pages, illustrations
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9 pages, illustrated 51001-BK
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This booklet has been written for community development workers in developing countries who are not technicians in the area of water resources. It is meant to serve as a general guide when planning environmentally sound small-scale water projects, that is, projects which protect and conserve...
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19-01-1986 The papers are intended to be used as guidelines to help people choose technologies that are suitable to their situations. 16 pages, illustrated
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01-01-1984 This booklet discusses the applications of clay, basic technology and theory, establishing a clay enterprise, and comparing ceramic technologies. 18 pages
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01-01-1985 This book provides paratechnical information forfield staff and counterpart personnel in Third World countries for use in planning environmentally sound small-scale projects.
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This manual gives complete and simple directions for making chalk sticks. 19 pages, illustrated
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This manual is concerned with the methods of waterproofing all types of soil construction.The first and easiest way toobtainawaterproofingagent from a tree is through Its sap. Since many trees will nothavea free flowing sap, and many that do not have useful sap, all kinds of trees must be tested....
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01-02-1979 This book is designed to aid both the technical instructor as a training manual and the Peace Corps Volunteer as a field resource reference. It includes sections on wells, pumps, and defines a water well program. 170 pages, illustrated
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01-10-1981 The purpose of this book is to show local farmers and others the basic steps to design, execute, and measure an agricultural experiment. This book does not cover statistical anlysis; it is assumed that trained statisticians are available for this purpose.
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01-01-1988 The Village Technology Handbook has been an important tool for development workers and do-it-yourselfers for years. First published in 1963 under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Handbook has gone through eight major printings. Versions in French and Spanish, as...
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01-07-1981 This booklet by the Volunteers in Technical Assistance outlines techniques for making soap for home or village use. 27 pages, illustrated Tech. Bulletin 51003-BK
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01-01-1979 This bulletin provides background, nutritional information and planting instructions for a large number of vegetables--including pumpkin, yam, cowpea, cucumber, okra--grown in Bangladesh. Illustrations of planting techniques and of the vegetables themselves are provided.
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01-01-1984 This publication provides information on the basics of Citrus production.Understanding Citrus Fruit Growingincludes information regarding origin and adaption, technology and resources needed, labor needed, costs and returns, maintenance requirements, climate, soils, etc. 15 pages Technologies for...
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Included in this publication is a description of the bee colony, relatives of the honeybee, what bees need to live, and the different types of bee hives.
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01-02-1976 The purpose of this manual is to outline, in as simple a manner as possible, the details of making and burning clay brick suitable for domestic building. 20 pages, illustrated