Acknowledgement

GATE is not only the name of this quarterly. It also stands for German Appropriate Technology Exchange. GATE was founded in 1978 as a special division in the government-owned Deutsche Gesellschaft fhnische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), German Agency for Technical Co-operation.

Tasks

GATE defines "appropriate technologies" as those which appear particularly apposite in the light of economic, social and cultural criteria.

They should contribute to socio-economic development whilst ensuring optimal utilisation of resources and minimal detriment to the environment.

Depending on the case at hand a traditional intermediate or highly-developed technology can be the "appropriate" one.

Activities

GATE focuses its work on the following areas:

· Technology Dissemination: Information and Advisory Service on Appropriate Technology (ISAT) provides a wide range of information and consultancy services relating to every aspect of adaptation and dissemination of technologies which help satisfy basic needs, make efficient and environmentally sound use of locally available resources, mobilise existing skills as well as promote selfhelp and extend the scope of the user and promote independent action.

AT-Small-Scale Activities Project (KPF): The Project aims to support pilot solutions that can be used as models, and demonstrate these with a view to putting into practice appropriate technological solutions.

· Environmental Protection: The growing importance of ecology and environmental protection requires better co-ordination and harmonisation of projects. In order to tackle these tasks more effectively, a co-ordination centre was set up within GATE in 1985.

Service

GATE offers a free information service on appropriate technologies for all public and private development institutions in developing countries dealing with the development, adaptation, application and introduction of technonology.

German Appropriate Technology Exchange Centro Alempare Tecnolog Apropiadas Centre allemand d'intertechnologie appropriBR>Post Box 5180
D-65726 Eschborn
Federal Republic of Germany