新刊案内：The Choice in Uncertainty: A Field Path to Community Development (English Edition)
A new book titled “The Choice in Uncertainty: A Field Path to Community Development” has been released as an Amazon Kindle e-book. This is an editied and translated version of “地域コミュニティ開発 参加型開発・コミュニティの社会経済” by Naoto NODA, published in 2017.
This book was written for practitioners in the field of rural and community development in developing countries. If you have access to the Kindle Unlimited service, you can read this book without additional expenses.
Summary of the book.
Why do so many well-intended development projects fail to deliver lasting results?
In the complex reality of community development in developing nations, the distance between a “perfect” plan in a city office and the unpredictable life of a rural village can be immense. For over 40 years, Naoto Noda has navigated this gap—from his early days as a forestry volunteer to serving as a senior expert for JICA and a professor of international development.
The Choice in Uncertainty: A Field Path to Community Development is not just another textbook on aid. It is a profound paradigm shift. It challenges the “expert-driven” model and offers a compass for those who seek to work with people rather than for them.
Drawing on extensive experience across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Noda reveals the “field logic” that makes projects truly work. He argues that the goal of international cooperation is not to execute a rigid plan, but to expand the meaningful choices available to the local community.
In this book, you will discover:
From Planning to Problem-Solving: Why rigid project cycles often stifle progress and how “strategic flexibility” allows for genuine adaptation.
Treasure Hunting vs. Needs Assessment: Why focusing on a community’s existing assets is more powerful than cataloging their deficiencies.
The Power of Agency: How to transition from being a “director” of aid to a “resource provider,” handing over the microphone to the community.
Navigating Uncertainty: Practical wisdom for dealing with social fragmentation and the “rational” but unpredictable behaviors of local residents.
Whether you are a seasoned practitioner, a student of international relations, or a social entrepreneur, this book provides the philosophical and practical tools to navigate the uncertainties of development work.
Inspired by the participatory spirit of Robert Chambers (whose works Noda translated into Japanese), this guide is a call to action to redefine success in development—not through the completion of a checklist, but through the empowerment of human connections.
Stop following the plan. Start finding the path.
本書は2017年に出版された野田直人著「地域コミュニティ開発 参加型開発・コミュニティの社会経済」を英語の読者向けに編集し、翻訳したものです。内容的にはほぼ同じです。日本語版は書籍とe-bookとがありますが、英語版は現在e-bookのみとなっています。
【問い合わせ連絡先】
本書の内容に興味のある方は、著者までメールでご連絡ください。
noda-n[at]n-fukushi.ac.jp
（* [at] の部分を@に修正してご使用ください）
