Understanding Theory of Change in International Development

This paper provides a critical review of 48 documents related to guidance on Theory of Change from a range of donor agencies and development organizations. Stein and Valters maintain that there is no one agreed definition for ‘Theory of Change.' They use the term "TOC approaches" to explain different ways that TOC is being framed in development and conclude that "TOC approaches can be understood as a continuum" where the Technical Tool is at one end [e.g. a logframe with explanations], TOC thinking in the middle [complex systems analysis and problem solving] and political literacy at the other end [see Guijt 2007].Within this continuum, they identify four broad categories of purpose,

1. Strategic Planning,
2. Monitoring and Evaluation,
3. Description, and
4. Learning.

Stein and Valters propose a typology for TOC types:

1. Evaluation or Formative,
2. Explanatory or exploratory,
3. Linear or complex.

To understand the concept of levels in TOC, the authors suggest "to look at the actors and targets of intended change process" that may focus on "individual", "relationships" and "Structural, institutional and systemic" In regards to evidence, they note that there has been a "lively debate" on what evidence is in the context of "TOC and Evidence based policy."