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Step 3: Highlight the Theory of Change
What is this step?
A theory of change gives a clear statement about what your program intends to do. At minimum it explains what you do (activities) and the expected results of those activities at the individual and community levels (outcomes/impacts).
A Program Logic Model helps to visualize your theory of change and is best developed collaboratively with stakeholder involvement.
Developing your unique theory of change together is important in community-based evaluation because it helps to make sure your evaluation is driven by the interest of your program stakeholders (as opposed to by external actors).
What do you need to do?
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Develop a Program Logic Model that reflects the interests of all your stakeholders (see GRSI toolkit below about the components of a Logic Model).
Consider the theory of change of others (see samples below), but make sure to adapt these to your unique program.
Make sure your steering committee is involved in creating and agreeing on your Program Logic Model each time you begin a new evaluation cycle. That's because your theory of change should deepen over time as learn how to do your work better.
How can other SAHs help?
Our consultations with SAHs across Canada helped to develop a private sponsorship Theory of Change represented in the Program Logic Model below.
It is very comprehensive - your SAH may not cover all parts. But consider what parts do fit as you develop your own Program Logic Model.
Expect that your theory of change will evolve and deepen over time. In fact, evaluation can be seen as asking questions of your Program Logic Model in order to learn how to make it (and your program) better!
Click on image to expand
Want to go deeper?
The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative Toolkit can help you more.
Ideas about implementing this step:
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Developing your Program Logic Model (slide deck #38-44)
Examples of how others have implemented this step around the world:
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Sample Program Logic Models in community sponsorship (slide deck #45-47)
Click here to access the GRSI Toolkit
The Refugee Outcome Inventory gives you more ideas about outcomes.
Sometimes it is good to draw on external theory as we build our own unique theory of change:
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This inventory is a menu of outcome options to consider when developing your Program Logic Model
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