APPROPRIATE LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY

PROJECT PURPOSE IS TO ADAPT FERROCEMENT AND PYROLYTIC CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES TO INDONESIAN CONDITIONS, THUS PROMOTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT. EVALUATION IS BASED ON A SHORT FIELD VISIT TO THE DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY CENTER (DCT) AT THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BANDUNG. NINE INDONESIAN ENGINEERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING IN FERROCEMENT ENGINEERING. SEVEN FERROCEMENT TARGET SITES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING. SEVEN PYROLYTIC CONVERSION ENGINEERS (2 GRADUATES, 5 STUDENTS) ARE BEING TRAINED BY 2 AMERICAN CONSULTANTS THROUGH INTERACTION WITH DTC SENIOR STAFF. A PYROLYTIC CONVERTER PRE-PROTOTYPE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED. IT IS BEING TESTED IN THE LABORATORY ALONG WITH 2 ANCILLARY DEVICES, A CHAR PELLETIZER AND A GAS BURNER. LIBRARY COLLECTIONS OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY DOCUMENTATION HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSEMBLED. NO APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES FROM ELSEWHERE HAVE YET BEEN OBTAINED AND EVALUATED BY DTC. UNFORESEEN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS DELAYED SUBCONTRACTING, AND AN UNFORESEEN NEED FOR A 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MET. THESE DELAYS PLACED PROJECT A FEW MONTHS BEHIND SCHEDULE. MANAGEMENT DIFFICULTIES HAVE ARISEN IN EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTING, CAUSING DELAY OF PAYMENTS. THESE ARE CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED IN COOPERATION WITH USAID"S OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE TO ASSURE COMPLETE ACCOUNTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROJECT AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT THE ORIGINAL 24-MONTH PROJECT BE EXTENDED 32 TO 34 MONTHS, WITHOUT FURTHER COST. LESSONS LEARNED INCLUDE THE NEED TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND NOT TO EXPECT EXECUTION TO START IMMEDIATELY.