Creating a Theory of Change

Overview

A theory of change is a powerful tool that helps organisations and initiatives plan how they will create change, assess their effectiveness and communicate to stakeholders. It is used widely by charities, social enterprises and public sector organisations. This workshop will explore what a theory of change is, how to construct one and best practice in conducting robust qualitative research.

This one-day course is delivered in partnership with industry leaders NEF Consulting (the New Economics Foundation). NEF Consulting has been delivering training and consultancy on Theory of Change since 2008.

What you will learn

• The big picture: theory of change and its role in strategic planning and evaluation.
• Talking in outcomes: theory of change and other impact formats
• Collecting theory of change data: engaging with stakeholders
• Using the theory of change framework
• Next steps: planning, verifying and communicating findings

By the end of the course, you will:

• Be able to describe a theory of change and when it is appropriate to use it.
• Understand what an outcome is and describe the similarities and differences between a theory of change and a logic model or impact map.
• Feel able to design a process and discussion guide for engaging with stakeholders.
• Feel confident using the component parts of a theory of change and to communicate their strategic value.
• Find a personal approach to visualising and describing a theory of change.
• Plan for how you will test and communicate your theory of change