Unpacking the Impact of International Development: Resource Guide 1. Introduction to Theory of Change

Abstract

This resource guide is one of a series of four developed to support researchers in international development with key monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, such as Theory of Change and logframes for proposal and project design. This resource guide will provide an introduction to: the key concepts that support ‘theory of change thinking’ and how these provide a foundation for developing logframe and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems; the different dimensions of a theory of change – as a process and a product, a visual and a narrative, and a framework to support learning and adaptation vs accountability and reporting; how to use a theory of change to support a structured conversation within research consortia on how change happens; the relationship between theory of change, logframes and impact pathways.