MASTERING THEORY OF CHANGE
DRIVING
IMPACT IN RELIEF, HUMANITARIAN, AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Theory of Change is essential for planning, implementing, and evaluating social change initiatives, including those in relief, humanitarian, and development projects. It provides a detailed road-map outlining the steps and conditions required to achieve desired outcomes.
Through a Theory of Change, projects can:
- Clarify project purpose and intended impact
- Align efforts with desired outcomes
- Test and validate underlying assumptions to ensure project viability
- Steer projects more effectively towards desired outcomes
This approach enhances project planning and execution, ensuring that initiatives are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with community needs.
WHAT THIS COURSE COVERS
- FOUNDATIONS OF THEORY OF CHANGE: Understand the core concepts and principles of Theory of Change and its relevance in relief, humanitarian, and development work. Learn how to develop ToC frameworks to articulate pathways of change, set clear objectives, and align interventions with project goals.
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF TOC: Explore real-world case studies and best practices of ToC applications in relief, humanitarian, and development projects. Gain insights into effective strategies for stakeholder engagement, data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management.
- INTEGRATION INTO PROJECT PLANNING: Learn how to integrate ToC principles into every stage of the project cycle, from needs assessment and program design to implementation and evaluation.
- ENHANCED MONITORING AND EVALUATION: Discover how ToC enhances monitoring and evaluation practices by providing a framework for tracking progress, measuring outcomes, and learning from experience. Explore tools and techniques for designing M&E frameworks based on ToC principles and using data to drive decision-making.
- PROMOTING LEARNING AND COLLABORATION: Foster a culture of learning, reflection, and collaboration within your organization or project team.
All topics are supported by frequent, clear, practical examples and case studies from relief, humanitarian, and development work.
You can see all the sessions in the curriculum below.
HOW THIS COURSE WORKS
This is a self-study training so you can work at your own pace. As soon as you sign up you will have access to:
- More than 3.5 hours of clear, practical, step-by-step sessions (downloadable, subtitled video, accessible on all devices)
- 80+ pages of downloadable student notes for reference
- Frequent tests to check and reinforce your learning
- A certificate of completion
This is a practical course. You will often be asked to pause and work through reflections and exercises. This is to support you in developing your own skills as you progress through the modules.
You can explore the early modules in the curriculum below.
And if you have any questions about whether this course is right for you, feel free to email us.
COURSE CURRICULUM
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PreviewINTRODUCTION TO THEORY OF CHANGE (11:22)
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PreviewIMPORTANCE OF TOC IN RELIEF HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT WORK (3:38)
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StartIMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING AND ADDRESSING ASSUMPTIONS IN TOC (3:52)
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StartGOALS OUTCOMES AND IMPACT IN THEORY OF CHANGE (15:07)
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StartQUIZ: INTRODUCTION TO THEORY OF CHANGE
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StartMAPPING CAUSAL PATHWAYS (12:26)
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StartASSUMPTIONS IN THEORY OF CHANGE (12:48)
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StartBUILDING PARTNERSHIPS - STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN THEORY OF CHANGE DEVELOPMENT (10:21)
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StartPARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY - COMMUNITY RESILIENCE (5:17)
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StartPARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY - SOCIAL INCLUSION (5:16)
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StartINTEGRATING THEORY OF CHANGE INTO PROJECT LOGIC MODELS AND FRAMEWORKS (10:42)
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StartLINKING ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS (12:45)
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StartQUIZ: THEORY OF CHANGE IN PRACTICE
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StartCOMPLEXITY AND CONTEXT SPECIFIC FACTORS IN PROJECT PLANNING (7:43)
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StartIMPORTANCE OF ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY IN THEORY OF CHANGE (4:09)
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StartINCORPORATING PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES (3:44)
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StartUTILIZING SYSTEMS THINKING IN TOC (5:04)
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StartADDRESSING POWER DYNAMICS (3:23)
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StartIMPORTANCE OF CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS (4:15)
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StartBUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION (3:12)
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StartMONITORING AND EVALUATION FOR LEARNING (4:31)
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StartADDRESSING COMPLEXITY - CASE STUDY - DISASTER RESPONSE (3:50)
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StartADDRESSING COMPLEXITY - CASE STUDY - HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (3:10)
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StartADDRESSING COMPLEXITY - CASE STUDY - AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (4:59)
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StartQUIZ: ADDRESSING COMPLEXITY AND CONTEXT-SPECIFIC FACTORS IN THEORY OF CHANGE
Your Instructor
Leading ELD Training with over 25 years of experience, Neil Kendrick from the UK specializes in Professional Writing, Reporting Skills, Proposal Writing, Results-Based Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation. He has trained professionals from hundreds of organizations in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.