There are many different ways to manage adult literacy programmes. This book will help those who plan and develop literacy initiatives make their decisions based on an understanding of ideas, values and principles. It explains how to take into account the local context and the purposes of learners, the local community and other key stakeholders. The book addresses both theory and practice, explaining the concepts and demonstrating these using real-life examples. The first part sets out the four key concepts of literacy (as skills, tasks, social practices and critical reflection) and describes associated approaches used throughout the world. The second half covers preparation and planning, offering practical guides for each key element of literacy-programme development. Using case studies from literacy programmes in many countries including Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mali, Nigeria, the Philippines and Uganda, the authors demonstrate the importance of literacy and its power to improve lives. They also show that the role literacy plays in social and economic development is not a simple one and literacy is never a quick-fix solution.