Welcome to the 2nd module on the roadmap to building digital communities for social change: define your theory of change.
Purpose
Nowadays, a lot of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and other organisations work with a Theory of Change (ToC), both for their programmes and for their organisation in general. For these organisations and programmes, a ToC serves as a framework for understanding how a certain desired (social) change is supposed to happen. Working with a ToC can really help you in structuring your programs and even your organisation. It enables you to think about the reasons you are doing certain activities and whether they lead to the desired outcome. Hereby, working with a ToC can in fact improve your work! In this module, you will explore the ToC and how to create one.
Learning Goals
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- Be aware of the concept of a ToC in the context of programme design and impact measurement
- Identify elements of RNW Media’s theories of change
- Appreciate the use of ToCs and how it can guide programme design
- Be able to develop a simplified ToC
- Recognise how a ToC is being used and adapted over time
- Understand all elements of the Planning Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) cycle
- Optional: understand the ToC of Love Matters
Learning Journal Reflection
Take a moment to reflect in your learning journal:
- To what extent have you been experiencing a ToC?
- How do you think your work, team or program is benefitting from a ToC?
- What would you like to learn more about a ToC?