I became interested in the possibility of working on Economic Development issues while in Africa during a feasibility project (1978) which I conducted for a report (A.T. Kearney, Inc.) to the world bank for a 350,000 MT/yr. Merchant Mill that was being proposed for GHANA. GHANA was only using about 20,000 MT of Merchant Mill products at that time, and the viability of export to ECOWAS countries had to be evaluated. Since this was a macro-economic study I collected a lot of import/export data, and realized how dependent the ECOWAS countries were on EEC and USA imports. When I visited West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal,and Benin ) to evaluate indigenous capacity, I began to see that there was significant demand for manufactured goods and a decreasing capacity for local food production.
As I eventually learned more about the markets throughout Africa there appeared to be a recurring theme. At one point in time the colonial perspective included the export of raw materials, Slaves etc., which made the owners of these colonies rich...... the more colonies you had the richer you got. This direct colonial control of African colonies has shifted to economic colonialism. EEC, USA, etc. export raw materials out of Africa and dump the poorest quality products back into these markets.
My interests include helping people develop the capacity to produce goods close to the market where they are consumed, utilizing a labor-intensive strategy. The transfer of capital intensive technology has created problems in developing countries without the infrastructures or regulatory bodies in place necessary for efficient and safe growth.
The environmental and health consequences of industries which dump their untreated wastes into streams is a problem I've observed first hand...... I saw babies being burned by acid from a plating operation in Nigeria.......no one was able to make the connection between the seeming clean, but contaminated water, and the burns on the childrens' feet. I would like to help prevent technological growth from poisoning Africa, and help develop businesses that benefit local people, as opposed to promoting development with negative impacts on the community.
I am not interested in promoting the export of non-essential goods from the USA to developing countries. I am, however, interested in the export of appropriate technology, and the skills necessary for local production of goods and services. I don't promote the concept of a few becoming rich at the expense of the many. I believe in fair compensation for value received. I believe in producing quality goods and services for a fair market price, as opposed to pricing based on "what the market will bear".
I advocate an approach that concentrates on making changes from the bottom up, rather than approaching big business with these concepts that are really designed to disrupt their hold on our economies. I discovered that most people focus on large projects and these are the types of ventures that attract political vultures. I would like to foster the development of hundreds of small businesses that form an economic system that develops power in an inconspicuous manner.
For example, rather that design one large facility that produces and packages cleaning formulations, which it ships to distant market, I would rather produce the formulations in small facilities, and ship the formulations to local facilities which finish, and package the end product. This creates jobs at the local level, and reduces the cost to the consumer through the reduction of transportation and warehousing costs. I advocate doing what big business normally does in one facility in numerous facilities spread throughout the market.
Professor BOLANLE AWE, Institute of African Studies, University if Ibadan, delivered a lecture at the University of Pennsylvania on April 22, 1987. The title of her lecture was "Modernisation in an African Setting: The Nigerian Experience". The following is an excerpt from her lecture:
"We have failed to improve the quality of life of our people, yet we are of all the Black Nations, the richest in terms of human and material resources....plans have not been successful because we have not adequately succeeded in seeing development in human terms."Dr. AWE recognized that "urban centered planning" efforts had failed and industrialization had focused on a consumer orientation, which tended to suppress traditional industry.
My commitment to the development of Economic Capacity involves the focus of Skills and Technology, in solving problems, and developing Socially Responsible businesses in the following categories:
These parameters affect the "Quality of Life" of people in our communities both locally and within Developing Countries.
Thank you for you interest in Appropriate Technology, Inc..
Peace and faith,
Ronald F. Smith, P.E.