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Developing a theory of change, outcome measures and evaluation design for an evaluation of the impact of the Daily Mile on obesity and health: project report

An evaluation of the impact of The Daily Mile: a scheme in which children run/walk for 15 minutes a day, in curriculum time.

by Judith Green, Benjamin Hanckel & Janet Peacock (King’s College London)

A refined method for theory-based evaluation of the societal impacts of research

The paper offers step-by-step guidance on application of the Outcome Evaluation approach, detailing how to: document a Theory of Change; determine data needs and sources; collect data; manage and analyze data; and present findings.

by Brian M. Belcher, Rachel Claus, Rachel Davel, Luisa F. Ramirez

Evaluative tools in impact investing: Three case studies on the use of theories of change

The authors look at three case studies of how ToCs help impact investing move forward.

by Noel B. Verrinder, Kagiso Zwane, Debby Nixon, Sara Vaca
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Six Models for Understanding Impact

Evaluating systems change is HARD. But impact models can be an enormously powerful tool to help philanthropy make sense of data, develop strategies, and communicate their theory of change more clearly.

by Liz Ruedy

Causal Chain Analysis in Systematic Reviews of International Development Interventions

Explores the application of causal chain analysis for systemic reviews. Includes an account of the causal nature of the connecting relationships in a ToC. Evidence synthesis techniques are discussed in the context of causal chain analysis.

by Dylan Kneale et al.

Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation Special Issue

A special issue of the journal of the Canadian Evaluation Society, focusing on ToCs in relationship to evaluation.

by S. Montague, A. Koleros, J. Mayne, G. Freer, S. Lemire, J. Whynot, C. Mavriplis, A. Farenhorst, E. Langelier, T. Franz-Odendaal, L. Shannon, S. Sridharan, A. Nakaima, C.A. Christie

Design, monitoring and evaluation of a direct payments approach for an ecotourism strategy to reduce illegal hunting and trade of wildlife in Lao PDR

A case about an evaluation study looking at ecotourism as a strategy for achieving biodiversity conservation.

by P.F. Eshoo, A. Johnson, S. Duangdala & T. Hansel (PLoS ONE)

Evaluating complex interventions: A theory-driven realist-informed approach

This article describes the development of a complexity-aware evaluation approach in the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems.

by Douthwaite, Mayne, McDougall & Paz-Ybarnegaray

Evaluating policy-relevant research: Lessons from a series of theory-based outcomes assessments

This paper presents and assesses the use of theory-based research evaluation by comparing, contrasting and assessing completed evaluations that explicitly tested ToCs in four research-for-development projects. It presents lessons learned.

by Brian Belcher, Daniel Suryadarma and Aidy Halimanjaya, Palgrave Communications

Using theory of change to design and evaluate public health interventions: A systematic review

This review aims to determine how ToCs have been developed and used in the development and evaluation of public health interventions globally.

by Erica Breuer, Lucy Lee, Mary De Silva & Crick Lund, in Implementation Science
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Outcome evidencing: A Method for enabling and evaluating Program intervention in complex systems

This article describes the development and use of a rapid evaluation approach to meet program accountability and learning requirements in a research for development program operating in five developing countries.

by R. Paz-Ybarnegaray & B. Douthwaite
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Getting beneath the surface in program planning, monitoring and evaluation: Learning from use of Participatory Action Research and Theory of Change in the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems

This research paper shares learning from an agricultural research program that used participatory action research and Theory of Change to foster complexity-aware approaches to planning, monitoring and evaluating.

by J. Marina Apgar et al.

Advocacy for Development: Effectiveness, Monitoring and Evaluation

This book makes available for practice the most important lessons from the evaluation of eight 'lobbying and advocacy' programs carried out over the past five years by alliances of civil society organisations working in international development.

by Jennifer B. Barrett, Margit Van Wessel & Thea Hilhorst

Impact measurement in impact investing

This paper presents practical experience of implementing impact measurement within an impact investing context. It highlights case studies where investments have carried out evaluations and lessons learnt.

by Eibhlín Ní Ógáin

How can ToC thinking help in programme design and planning?

In this section, you will find some information on how ToC can be used to design and develop effective strategies. It deals with ToC and Programme Design: Building the foundation for strategic choices, planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning.

by Centre for Development Innovation

UNICEF Methodological briefs. Impact evaluation No. 2: Theory of Change

Recognizing the importance of impact evaluation to UNICEF's work, the Office of Research - Innocenti, developed a methodological brief on ToC.

by Patricia Rogers
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Measuring your Social Impact: Theory of Change

The Theory of Change forms the backbone of any social impact measurement system. It links the day to day activities in your organisation to your overall mission or long term goals. This is a key step in deciding what you will need to measure.

by Social Investment Business and Good Analyst
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Theory of Change: Monitoring and evaluation

A podcast on how your Theory of Change can be adapted into an effective means of monitoring and evaluating your success.

by Research to Action (R2A)

Practical approaches to Theories of Change in conflict, security, and justice programmes: Using Theories of Change in monitoring and evaluation

This is a two-part series on practical approaches to theories of change in conflict, security and justice programmes.

by Vanessa Corlazzoli & Jonathan White (Search for Common Ground)
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You can get there from here: Using a Theory of Change approach to plan urban education reform

This article presents a Theory of Change approach to planning educational reform initiatives with a focus on district level efforts.

by James Connell & Adena Klem

Theory-based approaches to evaluation: Concepts and practices

This document introduces some of the key concepts of theory-based approaches to evaluation.

by Treasury Board of Canada
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CLEAR M&E roundtable series: Theory of Change

This roundtable was the second in a series of M&E roundtables organised by CLEAR South Asia on Best Practices in Data Collection. It provided an introduction to of experimental evaluation and quasi-experimental methods.

by CLEAR South Asia

Making causal claims (ILAC Brief 26)

This ILAC Brief argues to look at causality as interventions that are contributory causes to certain results. ToCs show such contributory mechanisms. Combined with other methods, they explain how and why an intervention makes a difference.

by John Mayne

Making evaluations matter: A practical guide for evaluators

This guide attempts to provide an overall framework with guiding principles for conducting an evaluation. The guide draws heavily on the experiences of the Centre for Development Innovation, particularly with its work around ‘managing for impact’.

by Cecile Kusters with Simone van Vugt, Seerp Wigboldus, Bob Williams and Jim Woodhill

How can ToC thinking help in monitoring and evaluation?

The ToC will assist you to have clarity on your outcome chain(s) and explains which strategies have been selected, why this set of strategies and not other strategies, and how they are expected to unfold.

by Centre for Development Innovation
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Theory-based stakeholder evaluation

This article introduces theory-based stakeholder evaluation. Especially in evaluations of complex and complicated multilevel and multisite interventions, the presence of competing theories is likely and the this method may prove useful.

by Morten Balle Hansen & Evert Vedung

Theory-based impact evaluation: Principles and practice (3ie Working Paper)

This paper identifies six principles for the successful application of a theory-based approach to impact evaluation.

by Howard White (3ie)
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Theories of Change and realistic evaluation: Peas in a pod or apples and oranges?

In this article the authors look at the points of connection and digression between Theories of Change and Realistic Evaluation. They discuss the importance of a contextualized perspective in evaluation.

by A. Blamey & M. Mackenzie
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Which links in which theories shall we evaluate?

This article addresses the question how to put a theory-based evaluation approach into practice.

by Carol Weiss in New Directions for Evaluation