Africa and Asia. Another example is the spread of manufacture of the Tara pump designed and developed in Bangladesh to Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam. /. . .A/45/321 English Page 9 30. In support of these national initiatives, a major contribution was made through a UNDP programme executed by the World Bank with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations, aimed at testing handpumps under laboratory conditions. During the course of the programme, 2,700 handpumps of 70 different types were field-tested, with the participation of the United Nations Volunteer Programme, as components of development work in 17 countries. An important outcome of this effort has been the preparation of guidelines providing Governments and development agencies alike with a practical assessment of pumps tested and reference for equipment selection. These guidelines are contcined in the 1987 World Bank publication ‘Community Water Supplyr The Handpump Opt ion”, 31. As a natural parallel activity to handpump development and production, considerable attention has been directed to improving technology and reducing the cost of well drilling. In the United Republic of Tanzania and in northern Nigeria, stimulated initially by the needs of small-scale agriculture, low-cost hand-drilling equipment has been introduced on a wide scale, while in Niger improved mechanical equipment for deep drilling has been successfully applied with support from Denmark. 32. Many of the developments in the area of appropriate and affordable technology have resulted from national efforts to solve specific problems. Examples of local technology developments aimed at promoting self-reliant systems are the plastic water-sealed toilet bowls, the water disinfection devices using bamboo cartridges, the coconut husk filters and the pot-type chlorine diffusers introduced at community level in the Philippines. In Indonesia, standard water supply modules
**Analysis**
The text discusses the development and implementation of technologies and programs aimed at improving access to clean water and sanitation in various countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. It highlights the importance of self-reliant systems and affordable technology in addressing specific local needs.

**Category**
Economic development, Health