**4. Institutionalizing IKS for appropriate technology development**

A number of earlier papers investigated the resource-potential of IKS to serve as a repertoire of appropriate technologies [29] as well as the ability to integrate IKS into the conceptualization, research and development of appropriate technologies [30, 31]. These papers provided lessons that will facilitate the integration of best practices for appropriate technology conceptualization, research, development and implementation such as sets of integrated strategies for the management of various resources such as water. The practices are more subject to failure when the civil institutions that may be the vehicle for a technologies development and implementation do not reflect the needs of all stakeholders equitably. Thus, focusing on only agriculture and farmers as the primary water extractors, while not paying attention to water-heavy users such as commerce and industry, would contribute to failure. Nevertheless, the major reason for failure in the development sector is because of the lack of attention that would have been paid to the indigenous knowledge that may have been resident in the community and that could easily have been harnessed to address the problem.

In order for indigenous knowledge systems to be successfully integrated into the development of appropriate technologies, many questions need to be asked and various issues need to be raised and addressed. Has the problem been tackled before? What are the existing institutions that have been addressing this problem before? What are the technologies that are available to address the problems? Are there indigenous knowledge systems of practices that have any relevance to the situation? Is it necessary to bring in an outside-community expert? What are the equity and justice issues that need to be addressed? Will the IKS be able to handle this? Is outside mediation necessary? Who will be benefiting from the technology development and implementation? Who will be bearing the burden? Of cost? Of resources?

These and other questions underscore the importance of a thorough understanding of, and appreciation for indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems, and how these can contribute holistically and sustainably to the development of communities in a participatory, just, equitable and environmentally non-impactful manner.
