Developing to Scale: The Pioneering Concept of Appropriate Technology in Global Health

Written by Heidi Morefield, Developing to Scale is a groundbreaking book that delves into the history of appropriate technology in global health and development. The book sheds light on how this concept, first introduced by economist E.F. Schumacher in 1973, has been instrumental in shaping international development projects.

The Birth of Appropriate Technology

Schumacher’s seminal work, Small Is Beautiful, introduced the concept of appropriate technology to a wider audience. The theory posits that international development projects in the Global South are most sustainable when they are small-scale, decentralized, and balanced between traditional and modern approaches. This ideology resonated with various stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, and international organizations, who were seeking more cost-effective solutions.

As foreign aid budgets were slashed, national interests shifted towards greater independence, and postcolonial activism gained momentum, the spotlight turned to cheaper, more feasible tools. The United States tech sector, in particular, played a significant role in driving this shift towards small-scale technologies.

A New Era in Global Health

The transition towards smaller, more localized solutions had far-reaching implications for global health. The focus shifted from massive modernization projects, such as water treatment facilities, to point-of-use technologies like village water pumps and oral rehydration salts. This paradigm shift enabled the widespread adoption of technical interventions that could be scaled up to address pressing global health concerns.

Heidi Morefield’s Developing to Scale examines the people, organizations, and events that have shaped the concept of appropriate technology in international health and development. The book reveals how different stakeholders have interpreted and adapted this concept to suit their needs, often reflecting assumptions about gender, race, culture, and environment.

The Politics of Appropriate Technology

Morefield’s study also highlights how policymakers have utilized appropriate technology as a tool to both constrain aid to a scale that does not threaten Western interests and to scale up the practice of global health through the development and distribution of technical interventions.

By exploring the complexities of appropriate technology, Developing to Scale offers a nuanced understanding of the history of global health and development, and the role that technology has played in shaping international relations and global governance.

Publication Details:
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Language: English
ISBN: 9780226828619, 9780226828626