A Theory of Change is More than a Diagram!
Ann-Murray Brown ????????
Facilitator | Founder, Monitoring & Evaluation Academy | Gender & Inclusion Advocate | Follow me for quality content
Trees. Houses. Animals.
These are just some of the graphics that I have come across to visualise Theories of Change (TOC). I am the first to admit that creatively depicting the thinking behind how a particular intervention (be it a programme, project, policy etc.) will bring about specific changes is far more interesting than a set of arrows and squares.
However, it is important to remember that the diagram is just the visualisation of the TOC. Ideally, every TOC should be accompanied by a narrative that gives further details on the rationale, assumptions, risks and justifications underlying the intervention. Developing a TOC is not simply a matter of filling in boxes in a results chain or producing a fancy image. The TOC adequately represents what the intervention intends to achieve and how. See my other blog post for a summary on the components of a TOC.
Some organisations focus so much on the visualisation, cramming in every detail, that they end up with a complicated diagram which makes it difficult to get a coherent view of the causal processes. On the other hand, the graphic may be too simplistic with the omission of details on the contextual influences (e.g. policy framework) which may enable or inhibit the change the intervention hopes to bring about (Rogers, 2014).
In sum, while a nice aesthetic for the visualisation of the TOC is good, do bear the foregoing in mind. The graphic for the TOC should be balanced; not overly complicated nor too simple. Ready to design your TOC? Check out a list of the different software for visualising your ToCs here.
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About The Author:
Ann-Murray Brown is a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) consultant who provide services such as one on one consultations. Learn more about her services and subscribe to her newsletter at www.annmurraybrown.com.
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Referenced Material:
Rogers, Patricia (2014). Theory of Change. UNICEF Methodological Briefs , Impact Evaluation No.2
Director at OYO STATE POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS TEACHING SERVICE COMMISSION(TESCOM)
7 年This is interesting
Social Consultant & Entrepreneur
7 年No hay que confundir una herramienta con la implementation.
Executive Director, Evidence for Change Solutions (E4C) Africa Ltd
7 年This article is very useful. May you please assist how one can develop a TOC for a national development strategy with several intersectoral linkages and interventions aimed to achieve a national goal e.g. Building a productive, competitive and resilient nation. And the key priority outcomes are Improved Agriculture and Climate Change, Improved Education and Skills Development, KPA 3: Improved Energy and Industrial Infrastructure; KPA4: Improved Transport and ICT Infrastructure(base for economic transformation, KPA5: Improved Health and Population management.
Director, Program Review Consultants Australia
7 年Ann-Murray Brown is correct in maintaining that a theory of change in more than a diagram. There is a need for accompanying prose that assists in clarifying the rationale for the elements in the logic . Also, a usable theory of change should include those elements, that are central to the operation of the intervention. These might be a sub-set of a wider set that attempt to describe the program as a whole. For example in the traditional input-activities-output-outcome model, there is often a list of inputs that do not contribute to the causal pathways. Also, it is generally preferable to use a hierarchy of outcomes rather than adhere to the distinction between outputs and outcomes. It also goes without saying that an evaluator should work in cooperation with program staff in the development of the theory, to ensure that the theory of change also becomes a useful mental model for them as they deliver the program
International Development Practitioner - Programme designer, evaluator, facilitator and trainer
7 年The PDF won't load, so here is the link to the Fivers Foundation example. https://www.theoryofchange.org/wp-content/uploads/toco_library/pdf/FiverChildrensFoundationTheoryofChangeandNarrative.pdf