CD3WD Project - Empowering Third World Development Through Knowledge Sharing

Making Sustainable Development Information Accessible

The CD3WD Project is a non-profit initiative that provides free access to a vast library of technical documents and other relevant information to support sustainable development efforts in developing countries. Founded in 2003 by Alex Weir, the project initially distributed information on CDs, hence the name "CD3WD" – CD for Third World Development. As technology evolved, the project transitioned to DVDs, USB Flash Drives, and now maintains a comprehensive online archive.

What is the CD3WD Project?

The CD3WD Project is a repository of over 900 technical documents and resources covering a wide range of topics related to sustainable development. These resources include:

• Agriculture: Sustainable farming practices, crop production, livestock management, and post-harvest technologies.
• Forestry: Forest management, conservation, and utilization of forest resources.
• Fisheries: Sustainable fishing practices, aquaculture, and seafood preservation.
• Food Processing: Techniques for processing and preserving food to reduce spoilage and increase shelf life.
• Engineering: Construction techniques, renewable energy technologies, and water management systems.
• Appropriate Technology: Low-cost, accessible technologies that can be implemented in developing communities.
• Water and Sanitation: Water purification methods, sanitation practices, and rainwater harvesting techniques.
• Education: Teaching materials, curriculum development, and non-formal education resources.
• Health: Community health education, preventive care, and treatment of common diseases.

What is the Purpose of the CD3WD Project?

The CD3WD Project aims to:

• Enhance knowledge sharing: Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise among development practitioners, researchers, and communities in developing countries.
• Empower local communities: Provide access to practical information and tools that enable communities to take charge of their development.
• Promote sustainable development: Support efforts to achieve sustainable development goals in areas such as food security, poverty reduction, and environmental conservation.

How You Can Help the CD3WD Project

The CD3WD Project relies on the support of individuals and organizations to continue its valuable work. Here are some ways you can contribute:

• Donate: Financial contributions help maintain the project's infrastructure, expand the collection, and develop new resources.
• Volunteer: Volunteer your time and skills to assist with tasks such as data entry, website maintenance, and content translation.
• Spread the Word: Share information about the CD3WD Project with your networks to raise awareness and encourage others to utilize the resources.

Together, we can make a positive impact on sustainable development efforts worldwide.

Main Access to the CD3WD Library can be accessed from this link here.

Click Here for access to the CD3WD online publications.

We are looking for help with distributing this information for free-of-charge in-country distributors... - email us if you are interested in distributing in your country.

Overview of CD3WD as of 2024

1. Main priority is to get the existing Website and Data disseminated - with some luck and the snowball effect, it disseminates itself - please assist in this endeavor..

2. next priority will be ideally to get existing paper resources digitized and put on CD and CD3WD also free of charge

3. 3rd priority is to gather new material (which may be existing but not published)

4. 4th priority is to commission additional material (which for example may be completely new document, or may be addition of engineering drawings, more detailed and simple explanation, costing data etc etc to existing focus). or may be a summary comparison of several alternative focus on one subject....

5. Additional material can be hosted on website in between editions and then incorporated in next edition when released. Website stuff would remain for 1-2 edition changes to assist people who are using older editions...

An Approximate breakdown of the publications in CD3WD by sector is:

• APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY - 22%
• HEALTH - 22%
• AGRICULTURE - 16%
• CONSTRUCTION - 14%
• FOOD PROCESSING - 9%
• SOIL AND WATER - 6%
• WATSAN (WATER AND SANITATION) - 5%
• ELECTRICAL TRADES - 4%
• METALWORKING TRADES - 3 %
• WOODWORK - 3%
• FISHERIES - 2%
• FORESTRY - 2%
• MISCELLANEOUS - 2%
• VETERINARY - 1%

This Site is Dedicated to Alex Weir, born 1948 died 2014

CD3WD Project Site Mirrors

CD3WD Project .ORG Domain

CD3WD Project .NET Domain

CD3WD .UK Domain