This is a guide to collecting, interpreting and using oral testimony of the people on whose actions and commitment development ultimately depends. The aim is to help development workers improve their listening and learning skills and value the knowledge, experience, culture and priorities of local people. ‘Listening for a change’ briefly traces the revival of the oral history movement in the North, highlighting its relevance to development practices. Case studies are drawn from different parts of the world as examples to show various ways in which oral testimony can be used by agencies and communities to contribute to development and relief projects