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<p><strong>First article.</strong> International aid agencies face major problems when attempting to evaluate their achievements. Activities, intended beneficiaries, partner institutions and social contexts are diverse because of their global scale. How can agencies&#8217; &#8216;theories of change&#8217; be adequately represented in summary forms that respect the complexity and diversity? This article, the first of two, looks at a range of types of change processes and how they can be represented. It starts with linear processes, traditionally represented via the Logical Framework, and ends with network processes. The solutions proposed are informed by three related cross-disciplinary theoretical perspectives: evolutionary theory; complex adaptive systems; and social network analysis.</p>
<p><strong>Second article.</strong> International aid agencies face major problems when attempting to evaluate their achievements. Activities, intended beneficiaries, partner institutions and social contexts are diverse because of their global scale. How can agencies&#8217; &#8216;theories of change&#8217; be adequately represented in summary forms that respect the complexity and diversity?</p>
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<p>Two articles that look at a range of types of change processes and how they can be represented. It starts with linear processes and ends with network processes. The second article elaborates further on a network perspective.</p>


Scale, complexity and the representation of Theories of Change

mapping_change-_using_a_theory_of_change

<p>&#8220;What are we doing, and why do we think it&#8217;s going to make a difference? Are we being effective?&#8221; Grantmakers ask evaluation questions like these of their grantees and themselves. This brief guide explains why grantmakers use theories of change to guide their questioning, unearth assumptions that underlie their work, establish common language, and develop strong action plans. Contributors to the guide also describe how a theory of change sets the stage for evaluation by clarifying goals, strategies, and milestones.</p>
<p><span class="gc-subtitle">Highlights</span></p>
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<li>What a theory of change looks like</li>
<li>Theory of change vs. logic model</li>
<li>Mini-case study: theory of change and strategic planning</li>
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<p>This brief guide explains why grantmakers use Theories of Change to guide their questioning, unearth assumptions that underlie their work, establish common language, and develop strong action plans.</p>


Mapping change: Using a Theory of Change to guide planning and evaluation

<p>Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in &#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221;? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe — and overlook the facts</p>
<p>Part of the &#8220;Our brains: predictably irrational&#8221; series of 12 videos on TED.com.</p>
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<div style="position: relative; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe loading="lazy" style="position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://embed.ted.com/talks/lang/en/michael_shermer_on_believing_strange_things" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
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<p>Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe — and overlook the facts.</p>


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