text: engineering and technical personnel as well as materials. The successful development of Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine programmes in the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe have relied heavily on community participation. The same approach has proven remarkably successful in carrying out low-cost sanitation projects in India and a programme in Lahore, Pakistan, for the installation of household water closets. Further examples of successful community and women's participation include drainage to urban squatter communities in north-east Brazil, and village community-based drainage construction in northern Pakistan. 3.Auorouriate and affordable technolouv I 28.A large proportion of the unserved population in the rural areas of developing countries could be provided with safe water from ground-water soilrces by means of handpumps. However, a high proportion of handpumps installed in the past tend to experience operational difficulties and go out of use, resulting in communities reverting to traditional unsafe sources. In fact, prior to the Decade, unreliability of equipment could be cited as the single most important factor hampering the utilization of handpumps. Under these conditions, the need was identified to analyse existing handpump technologies and designs, promote improvements and provide guidance for their selection. 29. The India Mark II pump developed in the 197Os, as well as the development in Kenya of the AFRIDEV pump, have constituted initiatives to respond to the problem in India and Africa, paying particular attention to the needs for village level operation and maintenance. Consequently, the whole question of handpump design and reliability was taken up by Governments as a Decade priority, becoming an example of technical co-operation among developing countries, with Africa and the Indian sub-continent at the forefront. Through intensive development work, the popularity and subsequent expansion in manufacture of the India Mark II pump led to its production by around 50 different firms in India and by several other countries in
analysis: The text primarily discusses the development of sanitation and water supply systems in developing countries, highlighting the importance of community participation, handpump technologies, and design improvements. It also touches on the need for sustainable and reliable solutions to provide safe water to rural populations. Given the focus on water supply and sanitation, it is likely that the text belongs to the category of Natural resources and environment, but also has connections to Health and Humanitarian aid and relief.