ABSTRACT

Theory-driven approaches to evaluation are increasingly employed in international development programmes to assess how programmes achieve outcomes – planned and unplanned. While the logical framework has long been used in international development, several leading international organisations are turning to theory-of-change (TOC) and realist approaches. For development practitioners, the nomenclature and process of constructing programme theory can seem daunting and the added value unclear. Using a real-world case study, this paper aims to demystify the terminology behind three theory-driven approaches (i.e. the logical framework, TOC and realist approaches) and address questions of why and how theory-driven evaluation can be incorporated into practice to provide a more informed and nuanced understanding of how programmes ‘work’. Using a nutrition case study, we highlight the key differences and commonalities between each approach and illustrate the process of constructing programme theory for each approach. A combination of the TOC and realist approaches is then explored to identify the added benefit to a combined approach in constructing programme theory. The combination of approaches provides a deeper knowledge of context and mechanisms required for change. Five guiding principles are identified to facilitate in the application of this combined approach.

摘要

在国际发展计划中越来越多采用理论驱动的评估方法来评估计划如何实现计划内和计划外的成果。尽管逻辑框架已在国际发展中长期使用，但一些领先的国际组织正在转向变革理论（TOC）和现实主义方法。对于开发从业人员而言，构建程序理论的术语和过程似乎令人生畏，并且附加值不清楚。本文使用一个真实的案例研究，旨在揭开三种理论驱动方法（即逻辑框架，TOC和现实方法）背后的术语的神秘性，并探讨为何以及如何将理论驱动的评估纳入实践以提供实践的问题。对程序如何“工作”的更全面和细致的理解。通过营养案例研究，我们强调了每种方法之间的主要差异和共性，并说明了为每种方法构建程序理论的过程。然后探索TOC和现实方法的组合，以识别组合程序在构建程序理论中的附加好处。方法的组合提供了对变更所需要的上下文和机制的更深入的了解。确定了五项指导原则，以促进这种组合方法的应用。方法的组合提供了对变更所需要的上下文和机制的更深入的了解。确定了五项指导原则，以促进这种组合方法的应用。方法的组合提供了对变更所需要的上下文和机制的更深入的了解。确定了五项指导原则，以促进这种组合方法的应用。