Fuel from the Fields
A case study which looks at the evolution of the D-Lab sugarcane charcoal project in Petit Anse, Haiti over the past two years. Particular attention is paid to the stakeholders in the charcoal project from both the US and Haiti.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Wheelchairs in Zambia
This case study examines
the DISACARE Wheelchair
Center as social investment in
addressing the needs of the disabled
in Zambia. This case study on the DISACARE Center in Zambia
makes a quantitative and qualitative inventory of the
financial investments and social benefits of DISACARE as a
donor-led investment project.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Meeting a Pressing Need
A case study looking at the implementation of the Bielenberg oil seed press over the past several decades.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Case Study Resources
The following is a compilation of references to existing
case studies relating to technology and its influence in developing
countries. It is a work in progress, if you have suggestions
for cases to be added to the list, please email them to abs@mit.edu.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Low-cost Drip Irrigation
A brief on the extremely affordable drip irrigation system invented at International Development Enterprises.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
No Electricity Refrigeration
Coming soon...
Charcoal Briquette Device
The design of an inexpensive, human powered briquetting device is critical if sugarcane waste is to be successfully converted into marketable cooking charcoal in Haiti(see Fuel from the Fields case study above, and read more about the invention of sugarcane charcoal in the Project Portfolio). This design challenge poses this very real and pressing need to your students.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Essential Oil Distillation Equipment
Essential oils extracted from flowers, leaves, and roots command high prices on the international market. If a more efficient, less expensive essential oil still could be invented, the financial barriers to entry in the essential oil extraction business would decrease, leading to job and wealth creation for more people. This is not a hypothetical exercise - your students can truly contribute to the design of this device, as detailed in this Design Challenge.
Download available here (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
World Facts Quiz
This exercise serves as an engaging introduction to a class on international development and/or
appropriate technology. It brings issues to the students’ attention in an extremely interactive way
and allows you to focus on topics or technologies of particular interest to your class.
World Facts Quiz Download (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Teachers Notes for World Facts Quiz (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Practicing Poverty
What is it like to live on US$2 a day? This exercise gives students (and teachers) a slight taste of the difficulties involved for almost half of the world's population, albeit for only a week.
Practicing Poverty Download (Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
Wheelchair Roleplay
In this role play, students experience some of the tensions that
arise when stakeholders with varying objectives determine
the outcome of a project. They gain insight into the factors that
influence funding decisions and the different effects of donation based
programs and capacity-building programs.
Wheelchair Role Play - Grant Officer
Wheelchair Role Play - Mechanic w/ special instructions
Wheelchair Role Play - Mechanic w/out special instructions
Wheelchair Role Play - Wheelchair Rider
Wheelchair Role Play - Parent of Wheelchair Rider
Wheelchair Role Play - NGO Manager
Wheelchair Role Play Teaching Notes
(Adobe Acrobat required - pdf)
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Note: ITDG recently changed its name to "Practical Action".
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The World Resources Institute focuses on environmental issues such as climate change, costal and marine ecosystems, and the economics of a sustainable approach to business.
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