Theory of change explains the process of change by. Creating your theory of change introduction to theory of change 5. Excerpt a theory of change explains how activities are understood to produce a series of results that contribute to achieving the final intended impacts. The range of examples represents how different groups have approached their theory of change thinking.
The different ways a theory of change can be used evaluation, strategic planning, fund raising. A theory of change explains how a group of early and intermediate accomplishments sets the stage for producing longrange results. However, it can assist with the assessment of other evaluation criteria. The community builders approach to theory of change. Theories of change fulfil a number of different purposes, including strategic planning, communication, accountability and learning.
A good program theory also reflects the fact that change happens in stages. Using theory of change in the development, implementation. Sample outline for a program theory q if a certain set of resources such as staff, equipment, materials are available, then the program can provide a certain set of activities or services to participants. Since all the items agreed upon by all parties are present in the contract, the document can serve as a proof or as an evidence that certain points of discussion and behavior action plan specification are valid. Outcomes are the building blocks of a theory of change. You move through the change process by promoting effective communications and empowering. Theory of change draws on evaluation and social change traditions, combining logical process. Logframe example in the following example, we map the objectives in the theory of change into the logframe structure of goal, outcomes, outputs, and activities. Some good examples of using theories of change, especially in a. Social change, in sociology, the alteration of mechanisms within the social structure, characterized by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behaviour, social organizations, or value systems throughout the historical development of their discipline, sociologists have borrowed models of social change from other academic fields. People and organisations that have begun using theory of change highlight a large number of benefits that the process brings, including. Theory of change theory of change is an approach to planning, learning, reflection and documentation of the change we make as development planners and practitioners.
Example information about influential factors, the problem, community needsassets, strategies, and assumptions are provided. Because change takes time, successes are not always recognized when they occur. It can help you to identify the potential impact and risks of your plan, and connect your work to a bigger goal. Using a change theory will help you make changes more smoothly. 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. A theory of change is a diagram that explains how your project has an impact on young people. Models for more complex multifaceted interventions are then presented, along with a discussion of nested theories of change. This theory was first suggested by saul kripke 1972 as an alternative to the then dominant descriptive theories of reference of proper names and was extended by putnam 1973. There is no perfect example, as all theories of change should vary depending on the views of those involved in its development, the context and nature of the intervention, and the purpose for which the theory of change has been developed. Your theory of change can make the difference between a grant check and a turn down letter. Outcomes in a theory of change represent changes in condition of some kind whether a policy, law, behavior, attitude, knowledge, state of the environment among people, institutions, and environments. Th e article discusses three possible useful versions of a theory of change, discusses simplifying the models.
A theory of change explains how activities are understood to contribute to a series of results that produce the final intended impacts. Guided example roject superwomen theory of change community. Lewins change management model is a simple and easytounderstand framework for managing change. Start by identifying and writing down the problem you want to solve and the longterm change you want to. Espa guide to working with theory of change for research. It is a theory in the sense that it represents the best idea we have about how we. This example theory of change is for a youth unemployment project. A practical tool for action, results and learning introduction there is nothing as practical as good theory. It can be developed for any level of intervention an event, a project, a programme, a policy, a strategy or an organization. Developing a theory of change keystone accountability. For example, guijt and retolaza are clear that for hivos, toc is both a process and an output. Developing a theory of change for your project what is a theory of change. In the keystone theory of change process, for example, organisations outline their vision, outcomes at different levels and the actors that influence change. Completing a theory of change worksheet helps you to map out the necessary steps you need to take to achieve a particular goal.
Theories of change tocs in international development programming, with. Q if participants receive these services, then they experience specific changes in their knowledge, attitudes, or skills. The process of developing a theory of change can help you to refine and enhance the effectiveness of your programme. By recognizing these three distinct stages of change, you can plan to implement the change required. The development of a theory of change will usually take place in a workshop with managers, programme staff and some key external stakeholders. Only when we add the assumptions to the causal links in the impact pathway do we get a theory of change. This is why it is important to articulate a theory of change in advance and measure each step of the theory of change through process monitoring and evaluation as part of an effective impact evaluation. All a theory of change process does is to make these assumptions explicit and therefore more testable. 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. This is a very important step because the need for change is identified and. A theory of change models outcomes in an outcomes pathway. An answer to this disastrous historyfed argument was the development of a causal theory of reference, which allows for referential continuity in theorychange.
Lewins change theory fits well with health care changes. For example, as we describe the steps that are necessary to surface and articulate a theory of change, the reader will see that, at their most general level, cci theories are quite similar to many program theories. Isabel vogel for the uk department of international. A theory of change is a tool to help you describe the need you are trying to address, the changes you want to make your outcomes, and what you plan to do your activities. For example, it can be used to help verify alignment of the project with the organizations and. Applying a theory of change approach to the evaluation of.
Useful theory of change models article pdf available. The annotations provide further guidance on writing a clear logframe that illustrates the ambition and scale of the project. The theory of change itself can be a useful tool for communicating what your programme does, and how it has an impact, in a clear and. Download pdf the hunger project 2011 these are examples of the theory of change developed by. For example, many programs have a goal of changing some type of behavior. Lewins model is a concept of repeating cycles of three phases.
Theory of change helps to build an impactorientation to guide research design. Theory of change slide 2 meteorological, political and social a theory of change is a set of diagrams and complementary text that describe, in detail, how outputs from interventions interact with. You will fill in the blank theoryofchange template provided in the forms index p. In developing a theory of change, the fi rst step is to develop the impact path way.
However, there are usually several things that have to happen first. A theory of change can be developed for an intervention. How a theory of change helps define and prioritize strategies needed to achieve results. To the first two pathways we add an education and career pathway, which is critical to success and fulfillment in todays society. But an impact pathway, results chain, or a logic model is not a theory of change. It provides guildelines for the time and resources required for each activity. It is a practical model that allows you to articulate how you will achieve your aim, and. Throughout our work and personal lives we have aims, objectives and ideas about how to achieve our goals, but we rarely take the time to think these through, articulate and scrutinise them. Useful theory of change models canadian evaluation society. So said harvard researcher carol weiss in her advice to communities engaged in ambitious transformation efforts. Unfreeze this is the first step in this change theory.
This is a very recent example of a theory of change developed by fiver childrens foundation with actknowledge, which provide a key foundation for evaluation, communication, planning, organization and staff development. 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. Programs focus on preparing fivers for the critical transitions into middle school, into high school, into college and into careers. These are examples of the theory of change developed by the hunger project for its work in general and for its program in africa.
Download pdf the hunger project 2011 these are examples of the theory of change developed by the hunger project for. Theories of change are often used for single programs like this. You start by creating the motivation to change unfreeze. The guide then looks at why would a grant maker develop and use a theory of change, and goes on to answer a number of common questions that are asked about the process. Guidance for developing a theory of change for your. A theory of change also reveals what should be evaluated, when, and how. This diagram shows how outputs can be added to your flowchart at.
There are different ways of developing and representing a theory of change. 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. For example, the unicef strategic plan 20142017 is based on a theory of change. Theory of change is a structured process to help develop a description of how research links to development outcomes. This document provides examples of theories of change of different types. Then, you implement the changes through training and education, and finally, you refreeze them, which means that you finalize the changes and make them policy. However, a strength of the theory of change approach is that it can be used for initiatives that may comprise many programs and partners.
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