Testing Project Intervention Logic Against Principles of Technology Transfer: The Case of Two UNIDO Small Hydropower Projects

Abstract: Technology transfer (TT) is a process that allows countries to acquire, adapt, deploy, localise and innovate technologies from other countries. In the case of international development, TT can help enhance the technology capabilities of developing countries and empower them to boost their economic development. Facilitating access to technologies through TT is an element often found in UNIDO’s activities, however some projects in its small hydropower (SHP) portfolio appear to have encountered some alleged challenges in fully achieving their intended TT results. This thesis used direct logic analysis to reconstruct and investigate the intervention logic behind two UNIDO SHP projects and test their validity against technology transfer principles highlighted in academic and specialised knowledge. It documents how technology transfer activities were planned in the two projects, compares them to the main factors that could influence the results of the technology transfer as highlighted in academic and scientific knowledge, and identifies apparent or potential strengths and weaknesses in the current approach. The results of the study suggest that UNIDO’s current approach to technology transfer has valid strengths. However, the analysed data did not include sufficient evidence to support a position that the current approach systematically and comprehensively accounts for all the factors that can influence the process of technology transfer as highlighted in academic and scientific knowledge. This could be interpreted as part of the explanation for some of the current project implementation challenges. Nevertheless, the interpretations generated by this study did not address a scenario where all TT factors are actively considered in the current approach but then omitted in the final project design due to being judged at that time (with the evidence available) as not relevant to the project under consideration. From the perspective of transferring technology, this thesis provided ample evidence that it is important to have a clear, systematic plan for those actions that need to be taken to facilitate the process, as well as an understanding of why those actions are important and how they can be conducive to improved project results.