The Good Earth Trust believes that alternative approaches exist which address people's most fundamental human needs and which are simple, low-cost, accessible and environmentally sustainable.

We are a UK-based charity, founded in 2007 by Jim Cogan, Sam Gordon and Dr Moses Musaazi after Jim noted the pressing need for Appropriate Technologies in sub-Saharan Africa to be given a voice.

The Trust is initially focusing on one core construction technology - Interlocking Stabilized Soil (ISSB) technology - which drastically reduces the environmental damage and economic cost of other construction technologies in sub-Saharan Africa.

ISSB is a natural starting point as it can help to provide basic infrastructure - an essential component to addressing the needs of low-income people - in this region, and later act as a platform for other Appropriate Technologies.

What are 'Appropriate Technologies'?

ISSB training in Kenya

'Appropriate Technology' (AT) is the collective term for a broad range of technologies, from Africa and other developing regions, that have proven developmental benefits: - they address the urgent needs of low-income people - they are low-cost and require low-energy and material input - they are environmentally sustainable It is often that these local, simple technologies offer the most effective solution.

Our fundamental objectives are therefore to:

Help provide high-quality housing and community amenities for low-income people

Ensure that this is done using environmentally-sustainable methods

We believe that these fundamental objectives are relevant to all developing regions, not just sub-Saharan Africa, and in the long-term we will seek to widen our scope.