Tool 1
Building a Theory of Change
Tool 1: Building a Theory of Change
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It can be useful to think of a ToC in terms of four quadrants that reflect on how PAR will support positive transformations, in terms of: resources, agency, institutional arrangements, and the broader socio-political context that the work of the PAR groups is framed by. Once these dimensions are identified, it is then important to think about the relationship between them. Filling in a diagram such as we have shared in Tool 1 can be a good start, either as a research team, or with stakeholders within a participatory action research group.
Principles & Steps of Participatory Action Research (PAR)
Tool 1: Building a Theory of Change
Further tool resources
Why do Participatory Action Research?
David Dodman, IIED
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David Dodman is the Director of the Human Settlements Group at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and a Lecturer in the Development Planning Unit, University College London (UCL). He holds a D.Phil. in Geography from the University of Oxford, and works in the fields of urban geography, international development, and climate change. He has worked in partnership with southern civil society organizations, local and national governments, and international organizations in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. David has contributed to major international reports including the UN Habitat Global Report on Human Settlements, and is currently a Coordinating Lead Author on ‘Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure’ for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.
