Utilizing Appropriate Technology for Development Cooperation with Africa

Abstract

Africa has received the greatest amount of aid and yet its effects on poverty reduction are meager, especially in the areas of agriculture, energy, water and sanitation. Little improvement in agricultural productivity and post-harvest loss in addition to climate change risks threaten Africa's food security. Africa is also faced with an energy crisis that challenges the health and environmental conditions, especially in the rural areas. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities is one of the main causes in the expansion of preventable diseases. Recent developments in understanding the need for appropriate technology to be localized and user-friendly provide development opportunities for rural Africa where barriers to building large-scale infrastructures are many. In this context, Korea could increase development aid efficiency by utilizing appropriate technology through the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) model and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach.

Keywords: Africa, Development, Technology