Improving access to infrastructure services
Practical Action Southern Africa
Disadvantaged people are often excluded from essential and decentralised infrastructure service provision such as water, sanitation, energy, education and shelter.
Our work aims to improve the access of poor women and men to locally-managed services, by developing and disseminating:
- Technology that improves access to locally-managed water and sanitation
- Housing technologies and access to adequate shelter and secure tenure
- Modern, clean sustainable energy services (including cooking technologies)
- Technologies for solid waste management
- Information on improving the access of poor people to the resources, support and infrastructure they need to build their livelihoods.
Current projects
Access to water and sanitation in Zimbabwe
Boreholes provide a reliable supply of water for communities in semi-arid areas The construction...
Read moreAnnual Report 2002
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Read moreAnnual Reports
Copies of Practical Action Southern Africa's Annual Reports are available for download.
Read moreAppropriate Technology for the aged and those living with HIV/Aids
In this article, we continue to showcase how a cross-section of the community in Chivi has adapted a diverse range of water harvesting techniques to include drip irrigation technology.
Read moreCase studies archive - Southern Africa
Case studies from the Practical Action southern Africa archive.
Read moreCatalysing modern energy service delivery to marginal communities in Southern Africa (regional hydro)
This five-year project, funded by the European Commission, will rehabilitate six existing micro hydro schemes and establish nine new ones, targeting the mountainous regions of Manica in Mozambique,...
Read moreChimanimani community-based orphanage
In our July 2002 Newsletter Volume 6 Number 2, we carried an article, “It started as a joke.” The article is a testimony of how the Chimanimani Community, in conjunction with ITDG Southern Africa, ...
Read moreClean water to fight cholera in Zimbabwe
Fighting disease and poverty in Zimbabwe Practical Action's work continues As cholera devastate...
Read moreCommodity associations: a negotiating tool for Nyanga farmers
Commodity associations are platforms where farmers share knowledge on the use of appropriate and affordable technologies aimed at increasing their agricultural produce. They help establish strong w...
Read moreCommunity ownership of water sources key to sustainable water supplies
The construction and maintenance of water points, especially boreholes, demonstrate how important...
Read moreComparative Analysis of Cholera Scale Up Project
Objective To evaluate Practical Action Southern Africa's approach in response to chol...
Read moreCompleted projects - archive
Information on projects in Southern Africa have now been completed.
Read moreCreating employment through SMEs
Stories of change - Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Every working day, 24-year-old John Ncube enters the bu...
Read moreCreation of habitable space restores the dignity of families in the community
General overcrowding in Zimbabwe's old suburbs has been increasing over the past few years, as mo...
Read moreDrip irrigation transforming Chivi Communal farmers
by Johnson Siamachira and Thembinkosi Nyathi A Household Nutrition Gardens Drip Irrigation Pro...
Read moreEcological sanitation toilets promote health among people living with HIV and AIDS
In Epworth, the majority of the households lack basic access to essential services such as potable water and sanitation facilities, owing to the absence of neither reticulated water nor sewer syste...
Read moreEmployment & consultancy opportunities
Please note that we are not able to hold speculative applications on file. Do not send us your...
Read moreEnergising the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) - Setting the Enabling Environment (E-MINDSET)
Energy plays a crucial role in sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development; social, economic, and environmental, including livelihoods, access to wa...
Read moreEvents 2003
Practical Action Southern Africa launches a fourth Service Centre and Business Shop Small to...
Read moreFlooding in Mozambique
January 2008 Torrential rains in Zambia and Zimbabwe have swollen rivers, including the Zambez...
Read moreFood production
The primary objective of ITDG Southern Africa's food production programme has been to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe by reducing their vulnerability to ...
Read moreFood security in Zimbabwe
March 2010 Regions of Zimbabwe supported by recent Practical Action projects on food security ...
Read moreGENEZ - Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe
Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe (GENEZ) is a networking initiative which intends to engender energy access issues and intends to empower women by bridging the gap between men and women on iss...
Read moreHides and Skins three-year project launched
List of the publications published by ITDG Southern Africa.
Read moreImproving access to safe sanitation
In Epworth the majority of households lack basic access to essential services such as potable water and sanitation facilities. For most people in the area a lavatory comes in the form of a make-shi...
Read moreImproving the livelihood options of vulnerable rural poor communities in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
Started in 2006 this European Commission funded project, known as the EC Block Grant (BG), aims to improve the livelihood options of vulnerable rural poor communities in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe.
Read moreImproving the Livelihood Options of Vulnerable Rural Poor Communities in Semi-arid Areas of Zimbabwe
Started in 2006 this European Commission funded project, known as the EC Block Grant (BG), aims to improve the livelihood options of vulnerable rural poor communities in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe.
Read moreInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
ITDG Southern Africa currently operate in five programme areas: Food processing, Agroprocessing, ICT's, Manufacturing and Small-Scale Mining.
Read moreInformation-sharing workshop for construction industry players
The meeting was organized to share information with key stakeholders on the activities of the Shelter Technology Area, particularly the Women In construction (WIC) project. The objectives of the me...
Read moreITDG's Information Service assists in Small Enterprise Development
ITDG Southern Africa's Technical Enquiries Information Service has assisted the Dzivarasekwa Youth Project in identifying and acquiring suitable machinery for the project as well as in the design o...
Read moreJournal Articles
This page features articles which have been published in various development related journals. Pl...
Read moreMainstreaming Livelihood-Centred Approaches to Disaster Management
Disasters caused by natural hazards such as floods, storms and droughts are a major challenge ...
Read moreManufacturing
ITDG Southern Africa currently operate in five programme areas: Food processing, Agroprocessing, ICT's, Manufacturing and Small-Scale Mining.
Read moreMid-Term Evaluation - Lead Consultant
Location : Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia & Zimbabwe Application Deadline : 25 September 2008 Lan...
Read moreMid-Term Evaluation Consultancy - Malawi
Location : Malawi Application Deadline : 25 September 2008 Languages Required : English Eva...
Read moreMid-Term Evaluation Consultancy - Mozambique
Project Summary The E-MINDSET is addressing the structural problems that seeks to link energy p...
Read moreMid-Term Evaluation Consultancy - Zambia
Location : Zambia Application Deadline : 25 September 2008 Languages Required : English Eva...
Read moreMid-Term Evaluation Consultancy - Zimbabwe
Project Summary The E-MINDSET is addressing the structural problems that seeks to link energy p...
Read moreNano-Dialogues
In 2006, researchers from Demos, Practical Action and the University of Lancaster collaborated on a process designed to engage Zimbabwean community groups and scientists from both the North and Sou...
Read morePeople and Technology: transforming lives
This document outlines Practical Action Southern Africa's strategy - our vision, mission and our programme aims - and details examples of our work, and our ambitions for the next five years.
Read moreCompleted projects
The following projects have now completed, but are included here for reference and learning.
Energising the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) – Setting the Enabling Environment (E-MINDSET)
Energy plays a crucial role in sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development; social, economic, and environmental, including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, education, and gender-related issues. Whilst improved access to modern energy services is crucial for the overall socio-economic development of the region, lack of local knowledge and skills in the area of energy planning has severely constrained the development of local energy initiatives with a focus on poverty reduction.
GENEZ - Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe
Gender and Energy Network of Zimbabwe (GENEZ) is a networking initiative which intends to engender energy access issues and intends to empower women by bridging the gap between men and women on issues of energy.
