"This book documents change and transformation in twenty rural communities in Ethiopia. When a team of sociologists and anthropologists visited the communities in 1995, they did not anticipate this would become the first round of a longitudinal qualitative study over two decades, complementing data from surveys and providing the stories behind the numbers. Over this period these communities have changed almost beyond recognition, in complex ways with different implications for various people - men and women, adults and youth, rich and poor. The communities have become less rural through urbanisation and more outward-looking, including through labour migration. The local economies have become more diversified, offering opportunities for entrepreneurial individuals and greater participation of women. At the same time inequalities have risen and young people's aspirations have grown with more educational opportunities. However, youth face increased challenges in improving their livelihoods and transitioning to adulthood. The expansion in health care is important, particularly for young women, mothers and babies, though girls still face a range of risks in growing up, and poverty and remoteness affect mothers' wellbeing. The book is written with a primarily Ethiopian audience in mind. We hope that it can be a valuable resource for academics, policymakers and practitioners who want to understand the magnitude and diversity of the transformation that rural Ethipia has undergone in the past twnety years in order to strengthen interventions and promote further improvements"--Back cover.