The New Criteria:

The criteria for selection and transfer of technology must be guided by the preferred quality of life and must avoid past shortcomings. I inadvertently imply the donor as the party doing the selection. In general the following criteria should be met:

1. The recipients' need must be primary
2. Technology must be innovated around existing systems
3. Use appropriate technology
4. Technology transfer through community initiative
5. Include local input, and provide priority to local initiative
6. Guard against criminal intentions.

I must note that groups from donor countries often emphasise on need to liberalize the economy, need to reduce government, and the need to build institutions based on Western model, and more accountability on the part of recipients in their recommendations to improve the effectiveness of technology transfer and foreign aid. In contrast, the criteria I summarize are more along with radical and environmentalist points of view.

The offer of technological assistance should be an asset to communities. The provider must be explicit in terms of the cost involved [FAD 161], reason for the aid, and monitoring method to enable the community to make an objective decision. If a community has determined their objectives, then the technology transfer can be effective.

From Gandhi, Schumacher to Greenpeace the call for appropriate technology is a movement. Small-scale industries, village technology, intermediate technology, alternative energy development, and low cost construction methods are all areas where research have led to successful projects.[KEVIN] The "craze for technology" should be avoided, and a balanced approach considering all factors of technology and its impact should be taken.

As was noted earlier, lack of "human and institutional capacity" or systems found in the developed world is a drawback to technology transfer. For example, more than 50% of the population of India lives in villages.[KEVIN 149] A village activity revolves around the temple, and landlords rather than banks, and government offices. Although, technology transfer should not facilitate exploitation, it should allow for innovation according to existing systems. The following quote by Sachs summarizes the notion of innovating around existing systems.[KEVIN, 155]:

"Instead of starting with ready-made technologies and then adapting at great pains the economy and environment to these transferred technologies, it is suggested to do it the other way round, making the best possible use of the specific natural and cultural of each ecosystem."

Moreover, the technology must be innovated considering the inequalities, and power structures to empower the poorest of poor.

In the last three decades, a significant number of immigrants from developing countries have settled in the developed countries. These migrants are best positioned to lead initiatives in co-ordination with native communities for technology transfer. They are more socially sensitive, and keen to serve native community needs and have greater access to developed world technology. A case in point is the rehabilitation and technology transfer activities undertaken by Sri Lankan Tamil community abroad. The Tamil Eelam Economic Development ORganization (TEEDOR) is the main vehicle which uses the expertise found among Tamil immigrants for research, and implements the projects in co-ordination with TEEDOR's Sri Lankan branch [www.teedor.org]. The Tamil Student Volunteer Program is a new student led organization that aims to provide direct assistance to people in the North-East of war ravaged Sri Lanka. Although, the financial capacity of these organizations is limited, they are better positioned than the IMF, World Bank or Governmental Agencies to diagnose need and implement projects.

I am from a third world country, and I know that large numbers of developing communities are illiterate of their rights, abilities and the larger world around them. Those dedicated to helping these communities must inform the people of their rights, abilities, and the world, and enable them to make their decisions. Furhter, all projects simply need to involve and seek input from the people to succeed.