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Global Crisis Response

THEORY OF CHANGE (TOC)

What is a Theory of Change?


  • A Theory of Change (ToC) describes how and why an intervention (project) is assumed to lead to a desired end-result. The narrative describes the logic or theory underlying the project. This includes the

  • Problem statement, context, results, choice of activities, cause-effect relations and the underlying assumptions

  • ToC is defined as the connection between activities and outcomes

  • It defines the problem that a project aims to resolve, the overall objective and the wider context, including the culture and power relations in which a specific project will take place

  • Assumptions about behavior, causal relations and contexts are made explicit and are, as much as possible, supported by evidence

  • A ToC is often represented in a visualization or diagrammatic form with an accompanying explanatory description (narrative). The visualization or diagram gives a clear overview of the different steps of a project (from problem to end-goal)

THEORY OF CHANGE (TOC)

What is a Theory of Change?


  • A Theory of Change (ToC) describes how and why an intervention (project) is assumed to lead to a desired end-result. The narrative describes the logic or theory underlying the project. This includes the

  • Problem statement, context, results, choice of activities, cause-effect relations and the underlying assumptions

  • ToC is defined as the connection between activities and outcomes

  • It defines the problem that a project aims to resolve, the overall objective and the wider context, including the culture and power relations in which a specific project will take place

  • Assumptions about behavior, causal relations and contexts are made explicit and are, as much as possible, supported by evidence

  • A ToC is often represented in a visualization or diagrammatic form with an accompanying explanatory description (narrative). The visualization or diagram gives a clear overview of the different steps of a project (from problem to end-goal)

Related Framework

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