Theory of Change in NGO Programmes

This intensive one-week professional training is designed to equip development practitioners with practical skills to design, implement, monitor, and adapt programmes using Theory of Change (ToC). The course responds to a growing need for clearer programme logic, stronger accountability, and evidence-informed decision-making in NGO and development work. Participants are introduced to Theory of Change as both a planning and learning tool, moving beyond its use as a donor compliance requirement. The course explores how ToC helps organisations articulate how and why change is expected to happen, identify assumptions and risks, and strengthen the link between activities, outcomes, and long-term impact. Emphasis is placed on applying ToC in complex, real-world contexts where change is non-linear and influenced by multiple actors and systems. Through a combination of interactive sessions, sector-specific case studies, and hands-on group work, participants learn how to develop context-sensitive ToCs across a range of sectors, including health, education, livelihoods, gender, environment, governance, humanitarian action, and media. The course also demonstrates how ToC can be integrated into results frameworks, monitoring and evaluation systems, and adaptive management processes. Participants engage in practical exercises to draft and refine Theories of Change for real or simulated projects, receive peer and facilitator feedback, and develop action plans for integrating ToC into their organisational work. By the end of the course, participants are better equipped to use ToC as a living tool for reflection, learning, and programme improvement.