If you do it well, it will help you prioritize goals that will yield the greatest impact. Applying a theory of change approach to the evaluation of. Arranging outcomes on the map as the first step in the theory building process has a few advantages over other brainstorming or planning approaches, which often. A practical tool for action, results and learning introduction there is nothing as practical as good theory. Applying a theory of change approach to the evaluation of comprehensive community initiatives. For espa and other research programmes, theory of change helps research teams to map out the. The development of a theory of change will usually take place in a workshop with managers, programme staff and some key external stakeholders. Lewins threestage model of change2 focuses on the driving forces that facilitate or hinder change, and how those involved in the change agree that the change is necessary, collaborate towards the desired result and. A theory of change can come in many different formats, but commonly involves a diagram containing boxes and arrows laid out to show how elements fit. Theory of change toc is an approach to developing, implementing and evaluating programmes of. Those involved in delivering development projects are accountable to a range of stakeholders, including people directly affected primary stakeholders or beneficiaries as well as partners, donors and groups within their own organisations. Theory of change task group development of this theory of change was initially led by a working part of rogares international advisory panel comprising. Details for each outcome toc provided in subsequent slides realizing the rights of every child, especially the. Theories of change time for a radical approach to learning in development 3.
A key principle underpinning the theory of change is recognition of the importance of addressing equity. Goldilocks has compiled this set of resources on the theory of change and its relationship to program design. Since their use in the field of community development, toc approaches have. Oct 07, 2015 a theory of change is a powerful tool that organizations can use to ensure that their daytoday activities are aligned with their ultimate aims. Theories of change fulfil a number of different purposes, including strategic planning, communication, accountability and learning. Although theories of change are frequently discussed in the.
Espa guide to working with theory of change for research. It shows a chain of events leading from the things you can control the most your design to the things you control the least other peoples behaviors. Theory of change a thinking and action approach to navigate in the complexity of social change processes together with many partner organisations in developing countries, the humanist institute for development cooperation hivos, a dutch ngo, strives for a free, fair and sustainable world in which all citizens both men and women have. Improving the lives of disadvantaged populationswhether through better schools, afterschool programs, or teen pregnancy prevention clinicsrequires proven theories of change. Using theory of change in the development, implementation and. Theory of change example activity break into groups of 3 or 4 and develop at least one theory of change. Developing a theory of change keystone accountability. A theory of change takes our assumptions about what we want or expect to happen and tests those assumptions to see if they hold true. A theory system that emphasizes client behavioral change through selfcontrol procedures, exposure treatments, and changing selfdefeating thoughts and perceptions. The range of examples represents how different groups have approached their theory of change thinking. It provides guildelines for the time and resources required for each activity. Theory of change a theory of change for a project or an organisation is a simple concept and something that most of us do in our own lives but rarely articulate it. No new tool or approach can in itself address problems of institutional incentives in the sector that block such learning. The peer learning programme for small and diaspora organisations.
The advantage of a theory of change is that the end product can look like whatever you want it to look like and use whatever language you like the danger is that a donororganisation starts imposing what it should look like then it starts to inform the process and people start bandying about phrases like means of verification. Because change takes time, successes are not always recognized when they occur. Change theory or change knowledge can be very powerful in informing education reform strategies and, in turn, getting results but only in the hands and minds, and hearts of people who have a deep knowledge of the dynamics of how the factors in question operate to get particular results. Revised supplementary programme note on the theory of. Aug, 20 the advantage of a theory of change is that the end product can look like whatever you want it to look like and use whatever language you like the danger is that a donororganisation starts imposing what it should look like then it starts to inform the process and people start bandying about phrases like means of verification. We hope we have clarified the reasoning behind theory of change and given you a fun way to develop or refine yours to make it your own.
For example, an organisation may use theories of change as a way to communicate their goals to funders, but also to promote internal learning on programme strategy. Goldilocks resource theory of change and program design. A threefold theory of social change with implications for planning, monitoring and evaluation by doug reeler the community development resource association, 2007. The idea that nonprofits should develop a theory of change has been widely embraced in recent years, and funders have helped drive the momentum. A theory of change explains how activities are understood to contribute to a series of results that produce the final intended impacts. Ever since chris argyris made the distinction between. In fact, many funders now require that nonprofits submit a theory of change document with grant requests for all the reasons paul brest outlined in his seminal article, the power of theories of change. Review of the use of theory of change in international development. A wellcrafted theory of change helps align the available energy, keeping your team focused and clear headed about the change you plan to make and how. The theory of change model is a mapa visual illustration of how steps in a process link to one another and how actions in the shape of designed interventions drive change.
In very general terms, donors, foundations and policylevel organisations and departments tend to work with highlevel theories of. In particular, you will use the information presented in the gray text boxes that follow about the mytown example program to determine what theoryofchange was used to design and develop this program. Pdf a theory of change is a purposeful model of how an initiative such as a policy, a strategy, a program, or a projectcontributes through a chain. The theory of change builds on this comparative advantage. Theory of change helps to build an impactorientation to guide research design. Theory of change has come to be near synonymous with programme theory, even if that link has not been made explicit. The very development of a field depends on their diffusion, replication, critique, and modification.
The theory of change is a tool that helps explain the relationship between a development problem being addressed and the strategies used to address it, showing why and how change takes place. Using workshops to develop theories of change in five low. Theory of change page 5 the education sector1 identified four different researchbased theories to inform the evaluation. See more ideas about theory of change, change and change management. Notes how stakeholders can be involved in the theory of change process. Nov 20, 2015 the theory of change approach, with its focus on continuous critical reflection, demands a radical shift towards more and better learning in development thinking and practice. This document provides examples of theories of change of different types. Influencing factors are those that influence the effectiveness of. For unicef, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their. Jun 18, 2015 theory of change example activity break into groups of 3 or 4 and develop at least one theory of change.
Useful theory of change models canadian evaluation society. Theory of change interacts with many other elements of project and program. They take readers from needs assessments and the importance of the theory of change, through practical discussions of how to develop a theory of change and identify assumptions. Creating a theory of change for your organization or program is like creating your own north star. Theory of change is a structured process to help develop a description of how research links to development outcomes. Theory of change defines longterm goals and then maps backward to identify necessary preconditions. Chapter 3 focuses on the application of theory of change at programme and project. At the same time, we have seen growth in the wider theory of change market.
More than a logic model, a theory of change is an organizations theory, or story, of how it will make change in the world. Humanisticexistential theories a theory system that emphasizes client selfdiscovery and inevitable change through acceptance of disowned parts of the self. Theories of change time for a radical approach to learning in development 5. So said harvard researcher carol weiss in her advice to communities engaged in ambitious transformation efforts. Theory of change draws on evaluation and social change traditions, combining logical process. Edgar schein provided further detail for a more comprehensive model of. These are the preconditions in terms of stakeholders capacity advocacy health international.
Amanda shepard, advisory panel coordinator consultant uk paul farthing consultant uk nick mason consultant uk meredith niles marie curie cancer care uk. Theory of change toc is a specific type of methodology for planning, participation, and evaluation that is used in companies, philanthropy, notforprofit and government sectors to promote social change. Theory maker is a free web app by steve powell for making any kind of causal diagram, i. Social change if you dont have a theory of change through which that social good is going to be created, a business plan lacks the appropriate level of. Theory of change online toco is the only webbased software no download required that you can use to design and edit and store your theory of change, learn the concepts of theory of change, and capture your outcomes, indicators, rationales and assumptions in an interactive graphical environment. Theory of change statement theory of change statement if mothers and newborns receive an essential package of quality maternal and newborn care services at scale, including prenatal and postnatal home visit support, and ifthere is achieved and sustained immunization coverage at. The focus and the contents of the guide emerged from the synthesis of my learning as theory of change design process.
In the toc we contribute to three levels of outcomes. Since its birth in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the field of comprehensive community initiatives ccis has been struggling to find evaluation strategies and methodologies that. Nov 15, 2017 creating a theory of change for your organization or program is like creating your own north star. The theory of change is based on the fundamental logic that a road can provide access to markets as well as allow for the provision of security, which in turn can lead to improved incomes and security for the population of north and south kivu. There are different ways of developing and representing a theory of change.
In addition, a simplified version of the diagram was developed and used in the evaluation report to focus more clearly on the sequence. The evidence underpinning the key assumptions in the theory of change is summarised below. A theory of change is a powerful tool that organizations can use to ensure that their daytoday activities are aligned with their ultimate aims. Theory of change explains the process of change by outlining causal linkages in an. People and organisations that have begun using theory of change highlight a large number of benefits that the process brings, including. Revised supplementary programme note on the theory of change. However, it is an initial approach that must be furthered based on new experiences and practical applications. A series of papers to support devlopment of theories of change based on practice in the field. Espa guide to working with theory of change for research projects.
What defines a theory of change approach is therefore not when or where you enter the cycle. Theory of change the data use partnership dup theory of change toc document includes this narrative and supporting graphic to illustrate our theory on how to improve data systems. However, a theory of change approach may be able to create a productive albeit small space for. Table of contents introduction 1 three kinds of change an overview 1 emergent change the road is made by walking. Feb 01, 20 pdf a theory of change is a purposeful model of how an initiative such as a policy, a strategy, a program, or a projectcontributes through a chain. You make the diagrams just by typing the names of the elements called variables in a structured way into a resizeable window, and you get a live diagram as.
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