"This manual is the result of initial activities developed together with our partner in Peru, the Asociación ETC Andes. It is an attempt to develop a method which will help people to document their experiences, focusing on the detailed description and analysis of a set of activities carried out in the field and their results and impact. The method has proved to be adaptable enough to be relevant for many different circumstances – it can be used to document single, short activities, projects, or for longer and more complex programmes. As our work in Latin America and elsewhere has shown, it can be carried out by community based groups or organisations, NGOs, networks or large institutions. We think that this manual can be a very useful guide for all those who understand the importance of drawing lessons from the activities they are implementing in the field. We do hope it will stimulate field level practitioners to deepen their learning and share this with others in an organised way, and thus to build new and relevant knowledge." (Foreword, pages 7-8)