Collaboration in International Rural Development: A Practitioner's Handbook

Written for all those engaged in international development cooperation, Collaboration in International Rural Development provides an immense wealth of practical information and insights into all professional aspects of the field. What distinguishes it from other books on the subject is that it combines the authors′ personal observations (based on their extensive experience as fieldworkers in numerous countries throughout the world and as teachers and administrators) with the scholarship and experiences of others as reflected in the literature. The result is a unique, holistic-systems perspective based on a judicious blend of theory and a how-to approach. George H. Axinn and Nancy W. Axinn provide original analytic tools designed to make practitioners more professional while also addressing current issues and concerns, such as strategic and policy alternatives, program development and implementation, evaluation, gender issues, and communication strategies. The last chapter offers a challenging but optimistic view of the future of collaboration in international rural development. Designed primarily for those working in rural areas anywhere in the world, Collaboration in International Rural Development will be an equally valuable tool for those who are interested in international development, rural development, evaluation methods, training, communication studies, or sociology.

`Collaboration in International Rural Development provides a solid body of clear, and easy-to-use, practical advice′ - Contemporary South Asia

`This is a splendid work. I know of no other which has captured the library of terms of usuage in development and brought them into a coherent framework. Along with presenting a handbook for the field worker, this book includes the historical, definitional and experential outcomes. I was especially taken with the field notes and how their use enables changes of pace from conceptional presentation into relevant field situations. This book places a real gem in the genre of development, wherever and however it will be attempted′ - Paul A Miller

`This is a book written for people engaged in international development cooperation which profits from the enormous experience gained by the two authors in 40 years of working for international rural development projects in the field.... What makes the book so extraordinarily readable is that it is obviously not written from the ivory towers of academia, but from the many practical experiences the authors have accumulated in Africa, Asia, Latin America and inside many international development agencies. At the same time it draws heavily on the writings of, and frequently quotes, the most important thinkers in the international development debate′ - Development and Change

`Provides practical information and insights concerning the evolution of challenging and positive possibilities in the field of international development, combined with theory within a holistic systems perspective′ - Development in Practice

`Clearly oriented to professional practitioners and, as such, is strongly skill oriented.... When going out to the field I will happily bear the extra weight of [this] book in my rucksack′ - Journal of Development Studies

`This handbook will.. be beneficial for those who train, supervise or otherwise support the field personnel engaged in rural development.′ - Development and Change