AbstractThe eighteen cases, drawn from the author's twenty years' experience, cover technology transfers arising from aid, commercial transactions, and government research institutes. Between them, they illustrate the need to think and plan whether the technology is needed in the fust place (or eg is it being imposed because of the politics of aid or the personal desires of the Head of State); is it compatible with the existing local technological infrastructure and with the local culture (and, if not, can it be made compatible); and is the local decisionmaking process suitably informed and organised to make soundly-based decisions? The first few cases are relatively simple; the last few raise many complex issues. The article concludes with checklists of points to be considered in any technology transfer.