The Theory of Change Process

Toolkit by the Office of National Statistics (UK): “When you are designing and implementing a new policy, programme, or process, it can be hard to see how the planned activities will lead to the desired outputs. There are often complexities which can affect the success of the initiative, such as assumptions we have to make about the effects of our actions, and dependencies on other stakeholders. Only by clearly considering and highlighting these complexities can you maximise the chances of achieving your aims and effectively evaluating the outcomes. Theory of Change (TOC) is a methodology for planning, monitoring, and evaluating an initiative. It enables the responsible team to clearly consider and highlight these complexities, and to agree these with relevant stakeholders. TOC is a tool that strengthens decision-making processes by ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and that you have identified existing evidence, assumptions, and associated risks…(More)”.