Introduction
The International Manual for Human Development is intended as a contribution to building the conceptual tools and methodologies with which to understand the contradictory dynamics of development processes and to select the practices and policies most coherent with the main goals and values established by the international community in the Millennium Platform. It is not intended to form super specialists or experts in all the involved disciplines of development but rather as a guide to select, within these disciplines, those aspects useful for the Millennium Platform. It is an exercise to help build an organic body of trans-disciplinary knowledge needed to overcome the fragmentation and separation that currently prevails.
The idea of the Manual was born in Paris in 2008 during a meeting of the promoting group of the KIP International School and Edgar Morin. The group was comprised of professionals who have stimulated many experiences of human development cooperation in different continents, starting with the initial PRODERE project implemented in 1989 by the United Nations. The issue that was debated was how to systematize and disseminate the "know how" that in all countries shows that the quality of life and development can change and move towards what Morin called “the politics of humanity”. In 2010, Morin published his book La Voie (The Way) which indicates the path to be taken, and also announced the publication of a second volume, to discuss further prospects, starting from the wealth of existing experiences in countries of the north and south. In March 2011, Morin wrote a letter to the president of the KIP International School, asking him to lead the production of this second volume, which is the Manual.
The idea of producing an International Handbook of human development may seem overly ambitious. It would, in fact, if our goal were to reach a rapid consensus on the instruments of thought, and the actions needed to achieve the millennium platform. As the work of the Manual demonstrates, we are only at the beginning of a historical period marked by great contradictions. This period is characterized on one hand, by the diffuse aspiration to a peaceful society based on equal rights and opportunities and on the other, the prevalence of both widespread and specific cultural patterns of inequality. So the road is very long and difficult. The Manual serves to stimulate the search for innovation, and to highlight the acquisitions of those involved in actual experiences of change. Therefore, the Manual should not imitate traditional disciplines but rather call into question conventional wisdom. This requires formulating working hypotheses, addressing open questions and make provocative statements. The theses of the Manual have this function. They are intended as a mean to provoke thought and encourage contributions from all stakeholders interested in this exercise.
The Production of the Manual
Manual production is coordinated by Luciano Carrino, who works in close collaboration with the Scientific Committee and the General Secretariat of the KIP International School. He is also the author of the initial version of its theses. These have been drafted based on human development cooperation experiences that have taken place in over fifty countries and in collaboration with different UN agencies and a variety of decentralized cooperation actors, universities, organizations, NGOs and private sector actors committed to the social economy. All stakeholders are invited to participate in the work of the manual, by sending commentaries, articles and other contributions. The theses will be periodically updated, based on the inputs received. The articles selected by the editors of the Manual, will be published with the names of the authors. All contributions will be listed in the handbook, citing the authors and organizations.
How to participate
Stakeholders can participate in the following ways:
• sending one or more items for the sections on in-depth analysis
• organizing workshops, meetings, seminars and other events, and sending their conclusions and recommendations to the editors of the Manual
• sending contributions, notes, comments, articles, excerpts from publications, annual reports, bibliographic tips, videos, etc..
• using the theories in practical ways (training and action research), and submitting a report to the editors of the Manual.
Public administrations, universities, foundations and other structures involved in organizing workshops, seminars and other events should contact the editors of the Manual, if they wish to have technical support from the International School.
Contributions may be sent in English, French, Spanish and Italian to the editors of the Manual at the following e-mail: luciano.carrino@kip-un.org. The authors of the contribution are invited to attach a brief summary and indicate how they can be contacted via e-mail, skype or telephone. If the contribution is the product of an event, it is also appropriate to provide information about yourself and about the organizations that participated in its realization.
The editors of the Manual are responsible for updating the theses, on the basis of contributions received, and the selection of documents to be published on the KIP International School website for further in-depth analysis. The plan of the Handbook is presented act as a guide to this work. However, the theses will be published progressively, as the editors receive contributions. Thus, the initial outline of the handbook may be adjusted, gradually taking into account the suggestions and contributions of all.
