ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by defining what is meant by the term “underdeveloped countries” and the characteristics of work in these countries. This is followed by a state-of-the-art historical review of the key contributions from human factors and ergonomics to work in “underdeveloped countries” and the various challenges that practitioners face in these contexts. We then consider five principles for developing the human factors and ergonomics discipline in these parts of the world. Finally, we discuss building local capacity, the diffusion of technology and knowledge, the importance of stakeholders and networks, science and practice alignment, and the encouragement of diversity to enhance resilience. The emphasis of this chapter is the egalitarian and equitable treatment of these countries and valuing the contributions that they can make to understanding human factors and ergonomics in a global context.
