The Intermediate Technology Development Group (now called Practical Action) was founded in 1966 by Fritz Schumacher and a few of his close associates to promote the use of ‘appropriate’ efficient labour-intensive technologies in rural areas. One of its first efforts was to produce a ’Directory of Hand and Animal Drawn Equipment’ for the British National Export Council for Agricultural Implements Mission to Nigeria. This was the forerunner of other technical guides like Tools for Agriculture, The Power Guide and similar directories. (Practical Action website)

Following a positive response to Schumacher’s 1965 article on intermediate technology in the Observer among some politicians, as well as in the development and academic communities, “Schumacher and a few of his associates decided to create an ‘advisory centre’ to promote the use of efficient labour-intensive techniques, and in 1966 the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) – now known as Practical Action – was born.”  (Practical Action website)

“The philosophy on which it was established was simple and straightforward. Many efficient, labour-intensive techniques suitable for local, small-scale application already existed or had been used in the past, but had been usurped by modern large-scale technologies. Knowledge of the existence of these technologies, and the skill to make and use them was no longer widespread and consequently the choice of technologies deployed for various tasks in developing countries was often inappropriate to local needs and circumstances. The Intermediate Technology Development Group set out to change this.

“The Group initially saw its aims as:

• Promoting the systematic assembly and documentation of all data relating to intermediate techniques and technologies.
• Drawing attention to them by publishing information about them, promoting the concept of Intermediate Technology, and advertising the group’s services.
• Offering advice and assistance to overseas projects in order to demonstrate the practical use of intermediate technologies in helping poor people to help themselves.

“In 1969 Intermediate Technology Consultants (now Practical Action Consulting) was founded as a company to provide services to organisations such as the ODA, the World Bank, etc, on appropriate technology.  By the end of 1970 the Group had created panels for Agriculture, Building, Co-operatives, Education and Training, Food Processing, Water, Power, Rural Health, and Women in Development.”

Today, Practical Action is an international non-governmental organisation which specialises in helping people to use appropriate technology for practical answers to poverty. Lessons from ITDG’s grassroots experience are spread through consultancy services, publishing activities, education, policy and research. For a more detailed history, see the Practical Action website.