This book looks at the question of what makes for successful change in developing countries. It focuses on people at every level in six developing countries in Africa and Asia who have helped foster positive change and development, most of which has been successful. Here, in contrast to so much academic writing on development which focuses on leadership alone, the author tries to get beyond that elite focus and highlight the people at all levels who make change possible. He examines the role and significance of these ordinary citizens and groups as well as leaders. Transformation almost always requires action and support at multiple levels from individuals, communities, and local leaders. The project analyses the cases of Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Pakistan, and South Africa.

Fred M. Hayward is retired from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the USA where he worked on a number of development projects in Asia and Africa. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for twenty-five years before going to work for the American Council on Education, later the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and then carry out a number of projects is Africa and Asia funded by USAID, the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and other funders. He has worked in more than fifteen countries in Asia and Africa.