holistic youth development: it may be all right in practice, but it will never work in theory...
TRANSCRIPT
Holistic Youth Development: it may be all right in practice, but it will never work in theory
creating and using a holistic youth-centered theory of change
Global Youth Economic Opportunities SummitOctober 7, 2015
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where—" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"—so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
- Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
WHAT WILL WE COVER IN TODAY’S SESSION?
● What is a theory of change?
● value and purpose
● key components
● creation process
● socialization and utilization
● lessons learned, tools and Q&A
“There is nothing so practical as a good theory”
- Kurt Lewin
WHAT IS A THEORY OF CHANGE?
A theory of change is a complete, coherent causal chain from inputs to outputs to outcomes to goal that recognizes the complexity of factors influencing the realization of a shared goal, including conditions outside of our control.
– Aaron Ausland
LONG-TERM OUTCOME
Intermediate Outcomes or PreconditionsPreconditions
Preconditions
An explanation of how a group of stakeholders expects to reach a commonly understood long-term goal. It articulates the preconditions and resources that create early and inter-mediate changes that add up to this goal. It makes explicit the assumptions that have to hold for the theory to be true.
– Aspen Institute
FOR WHAT IS A THEORY OF CHANGE?
1. It raises new questions
2. It grounds us in reality
3. It forces clarity over “fuzzy thinking”
4. Puts all the stakeholders “on the same page”
Image from The Aspen Institute
KEY COMPONENTS
outcomes & preconditions (modeled in causal pathways)
assumptions
rationale
pathway of change
narrative
Optional goodies include: indicators, interventions and enabling conditions
narrative
BOTTOM LINE UP TOP
Image from Centre for Theory of Change
PRECONDITIONS
A precondition is what has to happen if the ultimate outcome is to be realized.
A focus on the rationale of necessity helps avoid doing things that are good, but don’t get you where you want to go.
OUTCOME
PRECONDITION
PRECONDITION
ASSUMPTIONS
The beliefs about conditions you think exist or about the logical connection between preconditions and what they lead to that are critical to the validity of the theory
RATIONALES
Why that Precondition? Explaining every step of the way why the outcomes are needed and why they would lead to upper-level outcomes.
Why that Intervention? Why in a given context interventions (activities) done in a certain way are most likely to bring about the outcome
PATHWAY OF CHANGE
NARRATIVE
The plain language summary - short and compelling story that explains the map. Can have different versions to emphasizedifferent points, level of detail, etc.
OPTIONAL GOODIES
Indicators describe what it looks like if a precondition or outcome is met. They are measurable criterion that provide evidence of success along the pathway.
Interventions are the actions or activities designed to achieve particular outcomes. You don’t identify interventions until you’ve got the outcomes and their preconditions mapped.
Enabling Conditions at the local, national, and global level facilitate the pathway of change. When missing they can constrain success. They are often outside a project’s capacity to strongly or directly influence.
THE PATHWAY OF CHANGE
HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE A GOOD THEORY?
• Plausible
• Feasible
• Testable
Theory of Change is both a process and a product.
STEPS TO FACILITATING THE THEORY OF CHANGE PROCESS
THE STEPS
1. Gain buy-in and support from senior staff and technical leads
2. Identify qualified and experienced facilitators
3. Select space and date for ToC workshop
4. Identify and select participants for workshop
5. Organize logistics of workshop
6. Host ToC workshop
7. Establish working group to develop ToC product
8. Peer review by participants and critical friends
9. ToC validated by youth
10. ToC reviewed and ratified by senior staff
11. ToC socialized and put into use
THEORY OF CHANGE PROCESS TIMELINE
1.5 months 1 month 1 week 1 month 2 months 3 days 2
months 1 month 1 month 1 month 1 month
2. Id
entif
y qual
ified
and
exper
ience
d faci
litat
ors
1. G
ain b
uy-in
and s
upport fro
m
senio
r sta
ff an
d tech
nical
lead
s
5. O
rgan
izing lo
gistic
s of T
oC
worksh
op
3. S
elec
t spac
e an
d dat
e fo
r ToC
worksh
op
4. Id
entif
y an
d sel
ect
partic
ipan
ts fo
r ToC w
orksh
op
6. H
ostin
g ToC w
orksh
op
7. E
stab
lish w
orkin
g gro
up to
devel
op ToC p
roduct
8. H
ave
ToC p
eer r
evie
wed
9. H
ave
ToC v
alid
ated
by
youth
10. H
ave
ToC re
view
ed a
nd
ratif
ied b
y se
nior s
taff
11. S
ocial
ize To
C
ChildFu
nd’s Exp
erie
nce
Anita Anastacio, In
terim Vice President P
rogram Development
Domain Pathway Pathway Standard
Youth Employment Work readiness All youth are work ready (formal or self-employment)
Workforce development and protection policies
Communities understand and address child labor
Resiliency, coping and decision-making skills
All youth receive needs based and comprehensive life skills and psycho-social support
Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health
Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services
All youth have access to youth-friendly, confidential and accessible reproductive health services
Supportive homes and communities Communities and homes are supportive of healthy sexual and reproductive behaviors for youth
Community-based protection mechanisms against sexual exploitation and abuse
Communities understand and address sexual exploitation and abuse
Youth Change Agents
Informed and Involved Citizens Youth utilize citizenship knowledge and skills individually
Collective Youth Action Youth collectively advocate for change before public authorities at any level
Youth-inclusive Environments Communities include and value the active participation of young people in civic life
Theory of Change for Youth
Goal: “Skilled and Engaged Youth”
Youth Employment
Work ReadinessWorkforce
development and protection policies
Resiliency, coping and decision-making
skills
Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health
Supportive homes and communities
Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services
Community-based protection
mechanisms against sexual exploitation
and abuse
Youth Change Agents
Informed and Involved Citizens
Collective Youth Action
Youth-inclusive Environments
Same content, different look
Examples of Theory of Change Unpacked
Examples from country processes
Tools
Aspen Institute –
I’ll get some from Anita
Lesson Learned
• Clarifying distinction from a logframe
• Use it to clarify what you will do and what others will, but seeing the big picture so it is clear of all that must be done by someone in order to bring about the desired change. Shapes partnerships
• Getting people in the room with influence, technical skills across org levels, geographical regions, technical areas
• It takes time