Despite having some advantages such as skills, facilities and enthusiasm, Northern universities have difficulty in participating in the design and development of technologies for use in Africa because of difficulties in funding and in communicating with the potential users of such technologies. Warwick University has developed some ways of participating, as exemplified by a programme to reintroduce -on a basis of local manufacture - water- powered hydraulic ram pumps into rural Africa. New designs, materials, methods of manufacture and the organisation of installation have been explored in partnership with several indigenous organisations.