AT Activities

Network on AT in Food Processing

Paris - In March, at the invitation of FAKT (Society for the Promotion of Appropriate Technologies in the Third World), the second meeting of the Network on AT in Food Processing was held in Paris, at the offices of TPA (Processing of Agricultural Products). Besides the two host organizations, SKAT (Swiss Centre for Development Cooperation in Technology and Management), ITDG (Intermediate Technology Development Group) and, for the first time, also GATE sent representatives to Paris to discuss the next steps to be taken in the Food Processing Network.

The main subjects of discussion were intensification of information interchange and possible areas of cooperation in the future network. In this context, GATE sees its role as promoting South-South information exchange, believing that this will bring the greatest possible benefit for its partners. A meeting of NGOs in Cameroon, in May, which was assisted by GATE, dealt with a similar central theme. The meeting was organized by the NGO APICA (Association for Promotion of Community Action).

The Food Processing Network was founded in September 1992 by the European NGOs ITDG, TPA, FAKT and SKAT, to establish a decentralized forum in which not only information can come together, but also food processing activities can be coordinated. Hence, even at the first meeting, the emphasis was on R & D and lobbying possibilities.

New Newsletter: AT-Forum

Glucksburg - AT-Forum is a new newsletter published jointly by three German organizations active on the AT"scene":

- the "AT-Verband" (AT Association), of Bonn, a consortium of smaller NGOs, consultancies and advisers working in Appropriate Technology;

- the artefact Centre for Appropriate Technology in Glucksburg, a mutual association which has set itself the aim of promoting appropriate technologies and environmentally compatible development in Germany and the Third World;

- the ARTES-Institut, which offers a two-year course at Flensburg leading to a Master's degree in

Rural Development and Appropriate Technology.

Initially, AT-Forum will be published twice a year, in English, and will be mailed free of charge to countries outside Europe. Address: ARTES P.O.B. 1214 D-24960 Glucksburg

Small-Scale Project Fund: Dialogue with GATE Partners

GATE has been running the project "Implementation of Small-Scale AT Measures" since the end of 1986. The project supports independent implementation of small-scale Appropriate Technology measures with a financial volume of up to DM 30,000.

However, the financial support is only one aspect of the project. GATE hopes to profit from this instrument to develop a direct dialogue with the respective partner organizations. In addition, GATE hopes for a mutual exchange of information and experience among the organizations, and is trying to establish this direct contact by supplying addresses of projects.

Because as a result of independent implementation of the various measures, all the experience is in the hands of the respective implementing agency.

Many applications also have to be rejected, however. Last year, out of a total of 66 applications received, more than half were rejected. Only 21 measures could be supported by the project. The most common reasons were the limited funds available for the project and the insistence on equal regional and sectoral treatment.