Books published by Practical Action Publishing

This book aims to show how high standards can be achieved and the criteria on which rammed earth structures and building techniques can be judged. An important guide and resource for those wishing to employ this economical and low-carbon building material in the construction of public as well as private buildings in Africa and elsewhere.

Managing Humanitarian Innovation presents a new approach to transform the way humanitarian logistics are conducted. Innovation in logistics includes disrupting and improving supply chains through the use of technology and engaging people to manage this approach. The book discusses what innovation is, and strategies for supporting it.

is aimed at relief workers charged with putting together a programme of action to help people in extreme crisis. It provides humanitarian relief managers with a single comprehensive reference for all the management issues they are likely to encounter in emergency situations.

The Economies of Small describes the origins and development of the appropriate technology movement, and analyses both its changing concerns at the different stages of development, and also its abiding emphasis on scale and human values.

How can we stimulate lasting recovery from climate disasters, with limited resources and funds? Widely available limestone is a key component to achieving this goal. Many communities are familiar with these materials, and so, once equipped with the skills to work with them, they can rebuild communities and lead their own recovery.

This collection of eleven cases from Canada and the United States gives expression to the ideal of a new economy based on fairness and environmental sustainability; illustrating a new way of working, tying economic justice to the creation of multiple types of environmental, economic and social assets or forms of wealth.

This collection explores how young women's movements, along with the support they need, can offer a model of political, intersectional work to guide and re-politicise international development.

This collection explores how young women's movements, along with the support they need, can offer a model of political, intersectional work to guide and re-politicise international development.

How can we create appropriate practices for research collaboration in the face of climate change, widening inequalities, decreasing biodiversity and untenable consumption levels? Transdisciplinary co-production focuses on real-world problems through collaborative processes that include a wide variety of knowledge and expertise.

From girls' education awareness and action, to attitudes towards violence against children, communication for development (C4D) is a critical tool for sharing knowledge and creating social change. Evaluating how effective such communication has been in creating social change presents challenges. How can this information be gathered in a participatory way? How can we understand the contribution of C4D programmes to change? How can we ensure we learn from and adapt communication in the process?Communication for Development reflects on the challenges and opportunities of bringing a social change framework into practice. Underpinned by an Appreciative inquiry approach, the book explores the research, monitoring and evaluation of C4D - the field's leading evaluation framework.In each chapter, academic scholars partner with practitioners to draw lessons from recent collaborative action projects, which brought together researchers, UNICEF C4D and M&E teams, and selected in-country academic, NGO and government partners. As one of the largest United Nations agencies with a focus on C4D, UNICEF is seen as a leader of applied C4D research and practice.Communication for Development is essential reading for international development practitioners, students and scholars as well as programme managers, governments and donor agencies.Jessica Noske-Turner is a scholar of media and communication for development in the Institute for Media and Creative industries at Loughborough University London. The book includes chapter contributions from several eminent scholars and practitioners in the field, including Jo Tacchi, Vinod Pavarala, Patricia Rogers, Linje Manyozo, and Rafael Obregón.

Gender and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene highlights the importance of WASH provision for women and girls in their own right, as carers for families and communities, and as key to women's empowerment.

Voices of Latin America tells the story of the major issues, conflicts and campaigns for social justice in the region today, in the words of the protagonists of these movements themselves. Tom Gatehouse has assembled an unparalleled set of views and insights from the leaders and intellectuals of that movement.

Guatemala: Unnatural Disaster looks behind the immediate effects of the earthquake to the nature of the sociey which was struck by it. It documents the violations of human rights and analyses the grossly inegalitarian structures of Guatemalan society.

What Works for Africa's Poorest Children? From Measurement to Action provides cutting edge examples on how we can identify child poverty and deprivation, analyses innovative ultra-poor child sensitive programmes, and provides new public financing and governance rights suggestions for child poverty elimination.

B. Kucinski tells the story of a father-son relationship that begins intense and loving and ends up in pieces. Three factors come together in the story of the boy's life: adoption, drug addiction and racism. The father asks "Would it have been possible at any point to alter the course of this story? Or was it all destined to be?"

This collection explores how VCD is implemented in the field, options for innovation in design, and the potential for VCD to achieve impact at scale. The book provides a timely critique of current approaches, pointing at options for more reflexive learning, new collaborative frameworks, and faster innovation of VCD.

This collection explores how VCD is implemented in the field, options for innovation in design, and the potential for VCD to achieve impact at scale. The book provides a timely critique of current approaches, pointing at options for more reflexive learning, new collaborative frameworks, and faster innovation of VCD.

Islam and International Development centres around analysis of successful projects that have respected and incorporated Islamic teachings into their design and delivery, so that development professionals and Muslim communities can work together to effect meaningful and sustainable change.

Taking Shelter: Housing Finance for the World's Poor explores recent innovations in housing microfinance, presented by the innovators themselves: from field researchers and financial providers, to investors and regulators. It is a key reference to any reader interested in expanding housing finance for the world's poor.