Theory of Change

Quantitative evaluations might be insufficient for measuring the impact of interventions promoting the right to health, particularly in their ability to contribute to a greater understanding of processes at the individual, community, and larger population level through which certain results are obtained. This paper discusses the application of a qualitative approach, the "most significant change" (MSC) methodology, in the Philippines, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and El Salvador between 2010 and 2013 by Third World Health Aid and its partner organizations. MSC is based on storytelling through which the central question--what changes occurred?--is developed in terms of, "who did what, when, why, and why was it important?" The approach focuses on personal stories that reflect on experiences of change for individuals over time. MSC implementation over several years allowed the organizations to observe significant change, as well as evolving types...

Preparing, managing and evaluating educational technology initiatives, including projects that involve computer support for collaborative learning (CSCL), is a difficult task due to the numerous variables involved. In this paper, we propose a method to implement a " theory of change " approach to CSCL projects. The academic-sounding phrase " theory of change " is basically a way to ask, "What is the project designed to accomplish, and how are its components intended to get it there?" The method helps project teams articulate their own theory of change and specify goals, outcomes and indicators, leading to an evaluation plan for the project that is satisfying to the target group, the implementers, and the funding parties. The method proposed is aimed at all participants involved, but in particular those who have the responsibility to design the educational technology projects. The method also offers assistance in determining evaluation criteria for the project. The paper discusses problems inherent in the articulation, planning and evaluation of CSCL initiatives, and draws out the initial steps necessary to implement a theory of change approach. INTRODUCTION The explosive growth and functionality of Information and Communication Technology (ICT i) in general, and the Internet in particular, has spurned discussion how to embrace this revolution for learning. Universities are under increasing pressure to use this technological innovation as a means to control costs, improve quality, and operate more flexible and client-centered. Given the millions of dollars that are spent on ICT, there is an increasing call for accountability. The question is simple: does teaching and learning benefit from these investments? Obtaining the answer, however, is complicated. It means appraising the effect of our intervention (Phipps, 1999). An often-heard complaint is that evaluation methodology is subverted by a myriad of confounding variables brought on by others involved in the project. Why is this happening and how can we avoid this? We suggest that this problem arises out of four common misconceptions about educational technology projects. These misconceptions cause a " garbage in, garbage out " effect, i.e., the evaluation cannot be better than the parameters built into the project from the start. In the remainder of this paper, we first discuss these misconceptions and then propose a method to help projects avoiding these evaluation traps.

This paper aims to demonstrate how cooking and sharing food helped the integration process of Syrian refugees in Berlin through the work of the German NGO Überdentellerrand. The paper positions cooking as an intangible heritage and cultural construct of Syrians. The methods used rely on navigating multidisciplinary academic literature to position cooking as a form of intangible heritage and discuss its soft power while applying a theory of change. The case study is examines the extent through which food and cooking contributed to the integration process, bonding and understanding between refugees and their German counterparts through semi-structured interviews with personnel from Überdentellerrand as well as Syrians and Berliners involved in the cooking activities. Theses interviews are in-depth and open-ended to discuss how sharing a cultural experience can contribute to build understanding, acceptance and mutual respect as key cultural diplomacy indicators leading to social and cultural participation and partnership as preconditions for integration. A theory of change guides the data analysis through a meta-frame while utilizing soft power and cultural diplomacy. This paper provides an evidence-based discussion into the scientific discourse and participation in mobilizing heritage for more effective cultural approaches in facing current social issues

De acuerdo con las condiciones planteadas por el proyecto de investigación: “Aplicación de un modelo de mejoramiento productivo de las mipymes del sector marroquinero en el barrio Restrepo en la ciudad de Bogotá” desarrollado bajo el número C119 – 001 de 2019 y a lo preceptuado por elPrograma de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (pnud), el equipo de investigadores del proyecto, pertenecientes a la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios, con el interés enfocado en los diferentes temas y retos que plantea el desarrollo y la inclusión en función de la superación de la pobreza, ha desarrollado el presente documento con el fin de articular estrategias para dinamizar el proceso de desarrollo que requieren las unidades productivas organizadas en macroestructuras tipo clúster; a partir de los hallazgos de la investigación realizada como estudio de caso de un barrio tradicionalmente marroquinero y peletero en la ciudad de Bogotá. En concordancia con la imperiosa necesidad expresada en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (En adelante PND) 2018-2022 - Pacto por Colombia, Pacto por la equidad, en el que se mencionó que, en Colombia “[...] persisten un conjunto de factores y de restricciones que de no enfrentarse exitosamente comprometerán la continuidad del cambio social y la posibilidad de lograr un país con mayor equidad y calidad de vida para todos” (Departamento Nacional de Planeación-dnp, 2018). De esta manera y a partir del estudio desarrollado en el sector de las marroquinerías, se propondrá como resultado un modelo de transformación productiva que integre factores claves para el desarrollo de las mipymes, con enfoque incluyente y marcado énfasis en el respeto hacia el medioambiente y la sociedad. De esta forma, el estudio mencionado y los preceptos superiores se articulan perfectamente con esta propuesta, la cual se desarrolla en las siguientes dimensiones: ∞ Cambio transformacional de las unidades productivas priorizadas en la propuesta y en el ejercicio del proyecto, con visión global a todos los sistemas de clúster en Colombia. ∞ Construcción de resiliencia no sólo en términos económicos, sino también sociales y medioambientales, al incluir los cambios y transformaciones productivas requeridas en el ejercicio del proyecto y construcción del modelo. ∞ Progresos y pasos posteriores a la propuesta del modelo de transformación productiva enfocados en los parámetros definidos en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2018-2022 - Pacto por Colombia, Pacto por la equidad y en la agenda 2030 de Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Se espera con ello contribuir a la meta de transformación productiva de las unidades empresariales propuesta por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo y por el pnd 2018-2022, con un modelo replicable y escalable. Entre los principales hallazgos se destacan la obsolescencia de procesos, la precariedad de las condiciones y relaciones laborales y la rudimentaria innovación en productos y procesos; a pesar de las oportunidades y potenciales que tienen a su alcance y a las estructuras tipo clúster, sociales y productivas que han logrado su permanencia a través de los años. A través de la reflexión de los autores, se define la ruta crítica necesaria para establecer condiciones de transformación, integrando componentes de teorías administrativas de transformación productiva como el lean manufacturing con procesos de innovación social como la Teoría del Cambio (ToC), en la búsqueda de estrategias hacia el desarrollo, bien sea, sostenible o alternativo, para ser exploradas en conjunto con las numerosas comunidades productivas que actúan de manera similar al clúster estudiado. Basados en lo anterior, el libro constituye una guía de base para las mipymes en el replanteamiento de su rol en la sociedad a través de la transformación de sus modelos productivos de cara a los nuevos retos, patrones de consumo y desafíos ambientales a nivel local y global; así como, la integración del concepto de bienestar laboral como condición indispensable para el mejoramiento de las condiciones de seguridad, salud y calidad de vida en el trabajo que mejoren su adaptabilidad y resiliencia en un mundo de cambios socio ambientales definitivos para la especie humana. Como pasos fundamentales para construir la propuesta en este documento, se determinaron los siguientes: Primer paso, una revisión y análisis de las fuentes secundarias de manera que se pueda estructurar el marco de conocimiento necesario para abordar los objetivos del modelo, desde un diseño que involucre todas sus dimensiones de forma holística. Dentro de esta revisión es importante la integración de la metodología Teoría del Cambio (ToC), lo que sería un aporte importante en la fase de ejecución, si este modelo es aplicado. Segundo paso, se formularon con base en teorías disponibles y las realidades del entorno, los indicadores de gestión, metas, responsables, tiempos y medios de implementación necesarios para el logro de los objetivos priorizados del modelo; todos estos articulados en la estrategia propuesta dentro de los objetivos del “Modelo para la transformación productiva de mipymes”, el cual establece la hoja de ruta desde la perspectiva de las mipymes y el equipo investigador que contribuyó en su creación. Finalmente, se espera que, el modelo de mejoramiento productivo propuesto promueva el desarrollo económico de las unidades productivas con respeto hacia lo social y ambiental, como estrategia para crear y distribuir valor en la elaboración de productos y servicios, definiendo 7 claves con sus respectivos indicadores; que faciliten la aplicabilidad del modelo en las mipymes organizadas bajo esquemas tipo clúster, con miras a la reducción del impacto ambiental y el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de sus colaboradores y los espacios geográficos que las acogen.

This paper offers a critical interrogation of a Theory of Change (ToC) on hybrid systems of conflict management, as formulated by The Asia Foundation (TAF) under DFID Component 5: ‘Community-level efforts to improve local security in Mindanao’. It provides an empirical investigation of the specific components and interventions that form a hybrid approach to conflict management and where the specific added values and constraints of this approach should be situated. The paper also locates this hybrid approach and its specific conceptual underpinnings within a broader discussion of state formation and governance in the Philippines, and in Mindanao more specifically.

The ToC was analysed by combining a review of relevant policy documents and academic literature with fieldwork consisting of open and semi-structured interviews with TAF staff, key informants actively involved in peacebuilding and conflict management in Mindanao, and Quick Response Teams in the municipality of Midsayap in North Cotabato.

The paper argues that the socio-political landscape in Midsayap can be characterised as an exclusivist political order, in which local state institutions and officials play a pivotal role and where there exists a high degree of collusion between authoritative elite actors monopolising authority and boasting a coercive form of governance and socio-political control.  The efficacy of TAF's hybrid coaltion approach lies in its ability to identify local elite actors that defy distinctions between formal and informal and that are deployed within a coalition that puts pressure on warring parties to refrain from violence.  However, the exclusivist nature of these political orders limits the reach of conflict mediation and these interventions raise important questions with regard to neutrality and inclusiveness, with the risk that conflict management becomes just another instrument to cement elite rule.

Agricultural production in Northern Ghana is dominated by smallholder farm systems, which are characterized by low inputs and low outputs, declining soil fertility, large yield gaps and limited adoption of agricultural technologies. There is an urgent need for alternative farm designs that are more productive, yet more sustainable. Technology packages for sustainable intensification are promoted by an R4D project in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. In this paper, we analyse differences in perceived suitability, and modelled technical impact per technology package. We used a locally validated framework to categorise farm systems diversity that considers both, the horizontal (between households) and vertical (within households) dimension of diversity. Farm households were classified along a gradient of resource endowment. We selected one representative farm per type and per region to assess and compare their socioeconomic and environmental performance (farm profitability, labour and soil organic matter inputs) using the whole-farm model Farm DESIGN. We then used Farm DESIGN to assess the potential impact of five proposed technology packages and to explore promising alternative farm configurations. We discussed model assumptions and results with farmers, including alternative cropping patterns and trade-offs. We evaluated the packages with different household members using a weighted scoring technique, subsequently juxtaposing model results with farmer perceptions. Large differences prevailed among and within farms per type and per region, with low resource endowed farms being projected to benefit most in relative and least in absolute terms from an adoption of the packages. Farmer feedback confirmed the accuracy of alternative farm configurations, as determined by the model. However, the feedback also revealed that the most profitable farm designs would be hard to attain in reality, particularly for members of low and medium resource endowed households, due to high initial investment costs. Within households, women were more positive about the packages than men, since men heavily penalized extra costs and labour, translating into a greater congruence of model results with the male evaluation. We discuss the importance of distinguishing between technical (technology i.e. purchased tools and inputs) and managerial (techniques e.g. row planting) package components. We conclude that operationalizing inter-and intra-household diversity is a fundamental step in identifying sensible solutions for the challenges smallholder farm systems face in Northern Ghana.

Background: An Aboriginal-developed empowerment and social and emotional wellbeing program, known as Family Wellbeing (FWB), has been found to strengthen the protective factors that help Indigenous Australians to deal with the legacy of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. This article reviews the research that has accompanied the implementation of the program, over a 23 year period. The aim is to assess the long-term impact of FWB research and identify the key enablers of research impact and the limitations of the impact assessment exercise. This will inform more comprehensive monitoring of research impact into the future. Methods: To assess impact, the study took an implementation science approach, incorporating theory of change and service utilisation frameworks, to create a logic model underpinned by Indigenous research principles. A research impact narrative was developed based on mixed methods analysis of publicly available data on: 1) FWB program participation; 2) research program funding; 3) program outcome evaluation (nine studies); and 4) accounts of research utilisation (seven studies). Results: Starting from a need for research on empowerment identified by research users, an investment of $2.3 million in research activities over 23 years produced a range of research outputs that evidenced social and emotional wellbeing benefits arising from participation in the FWB program. Accounts of research utilisation confirmed the role of research outputs in educating participants about the program, and thus, facilitating more demand (and funding acquisition) for FWB. Overall research contributed to 5,405 recorded participants accessing the intervention. The key enablers of research impact were; 1) the research was user-and community-driven; 2) a long-term mutually beneficial partnership between research users and researchers; 3) the creation of a body of knowledge that demonstrated the impact of the FWB intervention via different research methods; 4) the universality of the FWB approach which led to widespread application. Conclusions: The FWB research impact exercise reinforced the view that assessing research impact is best approached as a "wicked problem" for which there are no easy fixes. It requires flexible, open-ended, collaborative

Existe un consenso compartido entre las organizaciones de desarrollo respecto a que la situación actual de la cooperación al desarrollo hace necesario profundizar en el refuerzo de sus bases sociales y del trabajo de promoción de una ciudadanía global activa.
En este sentido, la promoción del voluntariado se constituye como un potencial espacio de construcción de ciudadanía que complementa su visión más instrumental, centrada en la realización de tareas, con una visión como proceso de transformación personal y social.
Para realizar este cambio de enfoque es pertinente reforzar las capacidades de las ONGD proporcionando contenidos y discurso teórico, herramientas y metodologías de medición, así como orientaciones prácticas. Este trabajo pretende contribuir a este objetivo, facilitando a las ONGD españolas información, recursos, elementos de reflexión y propuestas a través de la caracterización del voluntariado transformador en el ámbito de las ONGD españolas y de una recopilación de aprendizajes y buenas prácticas extraídos de las experiencias de las ONGD que han colaborado en el estudio.
A lo largo de la investigación se han analizado, desde diferentes planos –institucional, operativo e individual- las actuaciones de promoción de voluntariado de ONG de Desarrollo de España, y la relación, en su caso, con la Educación para el Desarrollo. Asimismo, se ha explorado, a través del análisis en profundidad del voluntariado en tres ONGD, en qué medida las actuaciones de voluntariado pueden contribuir a la creación de ciudadanía global.

This report features the baseline survey findings for the project Social Cohesion through Community-based Development. The baseline survey, administered at the individual, household, and community levels, and with a sample of 2,000 households and over 6,000 individuals, offers comprehensive information on a wide range of topics facilitating a rigorous impact evaluation analysis. The findings based on the data indicate success in randomization, but the levels of outcome indicators are found to be high which raises implications for both research and intervention components of the project.