This book aims to provide practical information and insights to practitioners involved in collaborative international development programs. It draws on literature and the authors' many years of field experience to combine theory and practical tools as a guide to action in the field. The introduction defines concepts in rural development, outlines functional and structural models of development, and discusses implications of farm and community characteristics to the potential success of development interventions. Part 1 discusses forces of continuity and change in rural life, the evolution of attitudes toward development and development programs, the cyclical nature of development, and issues and concerns (sustainability, equitable participation, decentralization, corruption, gender issues, accountability, and collaboration). Part 2 addresses: (1) strategies in international development collaboration (essential factors, collaboration in training and research, and a systemic approach involving levels of planned change); (2) program development and evaluation (elements of program planning, planning cycles, goal setting, means-ends hierarchies, projects as tools of program implementation, planning tools, and evaluation strategies); and (3) learning and communication strategies for development (importance to learning of attitudes, banking systems of formal education versus problem-solving approaches, literacy-based versus practical approaches, indigenous knowledge systems, nonformal education and teacher-student relationships, accountability and collaboration strategies in learning, communication systems and channels, and elements of effective communication). Part 3 discusses program implementation and administration and covers such aspects as organization, personnel management, direction, and finance. Part 4 reflects optimistically on the future of collaboration in international rural development. (Contains references in a selected bibliography, an index, data tables, and figures.) (SV)