Practical Action / Practical Answers
Practical Action uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. We enable poor communities to build on their skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions.
Technology is a key to ending poverty. Technology doesn’t mean just physical infrastructure, machinery and equipment – it’s also the knowledge, skills and capacity to organise and use these effectively.
- Practical Action Publishing's books and journals, available to browse, buy and download here, in print and digital formats, bridge the gap between research and practice and have been offering world class insight on the global challenges that affect communities around the world for nearly fifty...
- Practical Answers aims to enable access for all to the wealth of technical knowledge produced within Practical Action, and from our partners. Accessible to all freely, including last-mile development practitioners, so that the hardest-to-reach communities can change their world. We believe that...
- Community-based seed multiplication of open-pollinated varieties (OPV) can mitigate against hybrid seed unavailability and its soaring cost thereby increasing access to standard seed for communal areas, especially in drought prone areas.
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Practical Action uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. We enable poor communities to build on their skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions. Technologyis a key to ending poverty. Technology doesn’t mean just physical infrastructure, machinery...
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Development Bookshelf is a specialist peer-reviewed and evidence-based online book and journal collection for International Development policy, practice and research professionals. The collection reflects the learning of multiple agencies and development professionals across a variety of...
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ThePractical Answersapp challenges poverty. Latest technical solutions are shared in real-time to equip users with the right knowledge, at the right time to tackle pressing global challenges like climate change, flooding, sanitation and ensuring sustainable agriculture. This app is perfect for...
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We haveover 2000 online resourcesavailable, including technical briefs and drawings, and audios and videos, on a range of topics and sub-topics, and in different languages. The resources are all focused on small-scale appropriate technologies aimed at improving access to infrastructure and...
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Connecting practice and research ISSN1755-1978 (Print) |1755-1986 (Online) Since 1990,Enterprise Development & Microfinance(EDM)has offered practice-based insights into the role of markets, enterprises and financial services in reducing poverty and stimulating economic development. This...
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This section on livestock includes all animals that are farmed, as well as insects such as bees. Fish and other aquatic animals are covered in the fisheries section.
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Fisheries and aquaculture provide direct and indirect employment to over 500 million people worldwide. It is the world’s only major food source harvested from the wild. This approach is dependent on the naturally renewable aquatic biodiversity in the oceans and inland waters. More recently, fish...
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Beekeeping or apiculture is a long practiced activity in many parts of the world. Bees are a vital part of the ecosystem - one third of the food we eat would not be available were it not for bees' pollination activities. Beekeeping is often done with very simple equipment. Approaches vary in...
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An international journal of water, sanitation and waste ISSN0262-8104 (Print) |1756-3488 (Online) Published since 1982Waterlinesis a refereed journal providing a forum for those involved in extending water supply, sanitation, hygiene and waste management to all in developing countries.Waterlines...
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This section includes wells, boreholes, handpumps, animal powered pumps, and renewable energy powered pumps.
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Over 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation. These are basic human rights. Many low-cost, community-run schemes can be set up to improve health, wellbeing and environmental conditions, and generate some income.
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Access to quality seed can be a difficulty for small-scale farmers. This section looks at some options and methods which make it easier to store and access seeds.
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The need for shelter is a fundamental necessity. Adequate planning, design and construction methods are key. Matters to consider include optimum use of local labour, using locally produced building materials, and construction techniques that are affordable, manageable and of best interest to the...
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By improving transport and infrastructure, those without the means to previously do so are able to access markets where they can buy or sell goods for income, make better use of essential services such as health and education and keep abreast of social, economic and political developments...
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This section looks at the way in which soil quality can be maintained and improved through a number of techniques including the use of fertilizer, manure and compost.
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Crop processing is a crucial step in converting raw harvested agricultural products into valuable marketable products. Post-harvest activities can make a big difference to the financial impact of small-scale agriculture. We look at methods for fine tuning the processing of various crops, new...
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New technologies have enabled agricultural products to be turned into a wide range of food commodities. These activities can enable food to have a longer shelf-life and can provide income generation opportunities to support the millions of poor families who can no longer make a living from the...
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An international journal of small-scale food processing and food supply management ISSN 2046-1887 (Print) 2046-1879 (Online) Food Chainis an international journal for all those involved in developing the supply of high-quality foods from ‘farm gate to plate’ and those who use food...
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Secure and sustainable livelihoods not only reduce poverty but also reduce susceptibility to disasters. Disaster mitigation, or disaster risk reduction (DRR), is about preparing for disasters and minimising the risk when they arrive. Emergency relief or disaster response is a specific...
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Practical Action Understanding the diseases and pests that affect onion farming and their management and prevention.