Theories of change are at a crossroads. They are both growing in use, and their value is increasingly questioned as meeting the challenges of the moment. Building on debates hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Evaluation Society, this CDI Practice Paper attempts to counter recent critiques of theories of change.
It discusses three reasons why they may have failed to live up to their potential in practice:
- Misunderstanding of what theories of change are
- Misuses of theories of change
- A poverty of imagination of what theories of change can be.
The paper then outlines some principles for good theory of change practice that could strengthen use in most situations.
Responding to the view that resource constraints preclude good practice, the paper sheds light on three different use scenarios for theories of change to illustrate how these principles can strengthen practice in: (1) a constrained scenario; (2) a moderate, more typical scenario; and (3) a novel scenario.
The paper concludes that getting the most out of theories of change is a matter of striking an appropriate balance to meet the rigour and use needs at hand.
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