適當發展是對適當技術概念的擴展——適用於各種發展方式的背景（文化、經濟和環境）。
這包括國際發展、富裕社區的可持續發展，以及介於兩者之間的一切。
適當發展的關鍵要素包括賦權、社區參與和對預期受益者 自由的強調。
Dangers to development
避免脅迫和腐敗機會至關重要，因為這些會嚴重削弱援助或發展計劃，有時甚至會產生整體負面影響。
ContextEdit
對文化和性別的敏感性以及對當地知識的欣賞對於適當設計和有針對性的計劃至關重要。
讓自己沉浸在環境中 - 生活在其中並研究它。看看激勵是如何起作用的，為什麼人們做他們所做的事情，而不做其他事情。
例如，人們可能願意投資建設和維護他們自己的水、環境衛生和個人衛生系統，如果他們認為他們會從中受益，但如果他們沒有財產權（例如，他們是擅自佔地者或貧民窟居民，沒有得到承認）他們的地位）那麼他們可能不願意投入金錢和時間。
Eyes on the goal: development
Development projects must be seen as part of a longer process - i.e. development as the goal, rather than a specific project. for that reason, admitting failure and learning from it is essential. An appropriately humble attitude, recognizing that learning is a long process and that mistakes are part of that process, enables development workers avoid the problem of good intentions, disastrous outcomes. In particular, voluntourism is susceptible to naive expectations and approaches, and should be handled with care.
Money and technology traps
Beware of thinking that more money or better technology is enough.
Recognize that subsidies and grants can sometimes enable a project, but are very likely to negative side-effects - plan carefully, and weigh up ways to achieve outcomes apart from giving or spending money.
Recognize the importance of individuals in the process. A program is only as good as the people running it - for this reason, fund people, not concepts.
A technological solution may or may not be effective in achieving the intended aims - it needs to truly be appropriate technology, appropriate to the needs of the context.