Question 1

1) Why do we need a Theory of Change at all?

Accepted Answer

Because projects sit on unspoken assumptions. The ToC makes those assumptions explicit and testable: what you expect to change, for whom, why, and under what conditions, so you can look for evidence, not just intentions.

Question 2

2) How is this different from a traditional logframe?

Accepted Answer

Logframes assume linear chains. Your ToC is systems-based: the same action can touch multiple domains; outcomes can be positive and negative; and risks are linked directly, so it reflects how real change unfolds.

Question 3

3) What are the two stages in the ToC module?

Accepted Answer

• Stage 1 – Actions & responsibilities: what you will actually do, by whom, by when.
 • Stage 2 – Outcomes for stakeholder groups: what may change in people’s lives (including potential harms) and why.
Separating doing from changing keeps strategy clear and measurable.

Question 4

4) Why is the ToC built on stakeholder groups?

Accepted Answer

Because “community” hides different realities. You select a specific group (e.g., women in Village A, youth members, field staff) and describe what should change for them, keeping people, power, and context at the centre.

Question 5

5) How does the ToC connect to standards and frameworks?

Accepted Answer

Themes and sub-themes in the ToC are pre-mapped to relevant standards (e.g., SDGs, ESG, Carbon standards). One ToC entry can later be read through several lenses without extra rework, which is useful for assurance and external reporting.

Question 6

6) Where do the outcomes and indicators come from, and are they robust?

Accepted Answer

They draw from coded standards, research, and practice; and all contain citations about their source. Indicators are checked against a SMART lens; where no benchmark exists, the rationale is explicit. You get structure you can trust without having to read every standard.

Question 7

7) Project-level or site-level ToC - what’s the difference?

Accepted Answer

Project-level captures the big picture across all sites. Site-level reflects local realities and differences. The platform supports both, so you can compare patterns without losing local nuance.

Question 8

8) Do we have to consult stakeholders to build the ToC?

Accepted Answer

For site-level ToCs, yes - there’s a lightweight consultation plan step (who, how, when, ethics). It keeps participation intentional and makes it easier to bring lived experience into design, not just into monitoring.

Question 9

9) How does the ToC feed surveys, risk, and reporting?

Accepted Answer

Stage-2 outcomes (by stakeholder + sub-theme) drive the survey builder (suggested questions/indicators), push risks into the Risk Register where relevant, and appear alongside results in the reporting portal, turning the ToC into a working spine.

Question 10

10) Is the ToC a one-off, or does it change over time?

Accepted Answer

It’s living infrastructure. Revisit it at agreed intervals (e.g., annually): add outcomes or risks surfaced by surveys and feedback; retire what no longer fits; document why you changed it. That is how learning becomes visible and defensible.

Question 11

11) We use terms like “outcomes” and “impacts” differently. How does the platform handle that?

Accepted Answer

The platform uses “outcome” as the working term (change experienced by a stakeholder group) and maps entries to external language where needed. The priority is clarity on who changed, in what way, and why, not winning a terminology debate.

Question 12

12) How do we get started well?

Accepted Answer

Start with a short working session: pick 2–3 priority stakeholder groups, list the actions you plan to do with them (Stage 1), then draft 3–5 outcomes per group (Stage 2), including any plausible harms. Your Account Manager will facilitate and keep it right-sized.

Question 13

13) What’s the role of Themes and Sub-themes?

Accepted Answer

They’re the bridge between practice and assurance. You choose the domains that fit your work; under the hood they link to indicators and external frameworks, so one coherent ToC fuels surveys, risk, and multi-audience reporting.

Question 14

14) How does the Account Manager support our ToC?

Accepted Answer

They run the kick-off and review sessions, help separate actions from outcomes, spot gaps and over-claims, and make sure site-level participation is feasible. The result is a ToC your team owns, and that the platform can actually use.

Theory of Change

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