Training and Technology Transfer for Low-Volume Roads in Developing Countries

Experience in promoting suitable technologies and improving operational performance is drawn on to enable developing countries to make more effective use of local resources in the construction and maintenance of low-volume roads. Training and technology transfer projects require multidisciplinary consulting and advisory support, which may include courses and on-the-job training but may also require “twinning” and other linkages between institutions for a more substantial transfer of skills over a longer period. The process is illustrated by case studies from a range of national and international technical cooperation projects, including the global Management of Appropriate Road Technology research initiative and the World Road Association’s World Interchange Network. The cases are set within a framework of basic models of ways in which training and technology transfer can contribute to international construction industry development, which suggests an inverse relationship between project predictability and recipient autonomy. The analysis offers several general lessons for engineers involved in international technology transfer, including (a) the importance of assessing local administrative, social, cultural, and regulatory environments at the project design stage; (b) the need for an open-minded approach to the choice of technology; (c) the scope for working with and through the local private sector; (d) deciding on an appropriate mix of technical and management training; and (e) applying the principle of sustainability through recognition of recipient autonomy and maintained contact between provider and recipient institutions to build confidence through collaboration.