WHAT IS THEORY OF CHANGE?
Map Out the Change in Your Community
ARTICULATION
Helps organisations, programmes, networks, or initiatives articulate social change efforts by clarifying:
- Intentions
- Expected outcomes
PLANNING
Shows the pathways and interventions necessary to reach intended results
EVALUATION
Articulates outcomes that will guide evaluation (but not the evaluation methods, which would be stated in an evaluation plan)
DISCIPLINE
Brings discipline and alignment to practice; ensures logical coherence to an project’s work and expected results
Theory of Change
It’s Easier Than You Think
Two typical misconceptions about the Theory of Change are that it must be difficult and that it is just another box to tick. When utilised appropriately, it becomes a simple and useful tool.
Inputs
Resources needed to conduct your activities efficiently.
Examples:
- Human resources
- Space/Facilities
- Technology
- Materials
- Curriculum
Activities
Activities needed to reach your outcomes.
Examples:
- Workshops
- Trainings
- Learning activities
- Services
- Policy advocacy
- Delivery of products
Outputs
Tangible results you produce through your activities.
Examples:
- # of targeted beneficiaries
- #attendants
- % of completion
- % increase in learning outcomes
Short-Term Outcomes
Outcomes expected of your interventions.
Changes in:
- Learning
- Awareness
- Knowledge
- Attitudes
- Skills
- Opinions
- Aspirations
- Motivations
Mid-Term Outcomes
Outcomes you want to see in your intervention timeframe.
Changes in:
- Actions
- Behaviours
- Practices
- Decisions
- Policies
- Social actions
Long-Term Outcomes
Outcomes you hope to observe beyond your intervention timeframe.
Changes in:
- Conditions
- Social contexts
- Environmental characteristics
ULTIMATE IMPACT – Write the impact that you achieve through your intervention(s)!
STAGES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE THEORY OF CHANGE
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Let’s breakdown the stages for implementing the Theory of Change
10 Stages for implementing the Theory of Change
in your community right now.
Plant it!
1. Plan your process
What is the PROBLEM, how much time will it takes, is it new or old initiative?
2. Collect evidence of need and context
Evidence of need
3. Determine your intended impact
The ultimate resolution, for example: reduction in migrant unemployment in the local area
4. Articulate your long-term outcomes
Example: In order to reduce unemployment, migrants will need to: get sustainable jobs, employers will have to: increase migrant uptake
5. Map your intermediate outcomes backwards
Work backwards and plot the preceding stages in much greater detail
6. Identify outputs
Products, services or facilities that will help you to bring about the outcomes you have identified
7. Clarify assumptions
The conditions that need to be in place to make the theory work; they explain the logic behind the overall programme and behind the causal links
8. Establish timelines
And plan resources
9. Produce your diagram and narrative
As you develop your theory of change you will need to make it available in a useful format. Most people find a diagram or map helpful.
10 Get ready to use your theory of change
Theory of change can help you plan your project or feed into your organisation’s strategy. It can also help you to communicate succinctly about your work and the change it makes.
Use it!
Another approach – Achieving Better Community Development
Let’s explain!
As we learned, community development is a planned process of change that uses certain inputs to produce desired outputs and outcomes.
Processes in community development are the ways in which the inputs are used to lead toward outcomes. In the ABCD model, these processes are summarised as community empowerment.
There are four dimensions of community empowerment that must be built into any community development activity:
- Personal empowerment
- Positive action
- Community organisation
- Participation and influence
SUMMARISING MEDIATION FOR STRONGER COMMUNITIES
Mastering the Context
Understanding the big picture
Knowing Ourselves
Understanding our limits and skills
Communicating Meaningfully
Having an inspiring vision
Empowering Others
Through Empathy, Integrity and Constancy: Building Trust
Realising Intentions
Turning visions into practical solutions
Preventing and Resolving Conflicts
Through collaboration, skill and capacity building, using mediation
HOW CAN MEDIATION AFFECT A COMMUNITY?
- Personal empowerment: individual learning, knowledge, confidence and skill
- Positive action: identify and involve groups excluded by poverty, health, race, gender or disability
- Community organisation: range, quality and effectiveness of community based groups
- Participation and influence: sense of belonging
Source: https://www.scmc.sacro.org.uk/sites/default/files/resource/COMMUNITY%20MEDIATION%206.pdf
Thank you and congratulations on finishing Module 4!
Next up:
Module 5 – Resource models – levering public and community investments, attracting resources
