scholarly journals Twinning “Practices of Change” With “Theory of Change”

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bodille Arensman ◽  
Cornelie van Waegeningh ◽  
Margit van Wessel
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Real World ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Clear Distinction ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Child Rights ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Advocacy Program

Theory of change (ToC) is currently the approach for the evaluation and planning of international development programs. This approach is considered especially suitable for complex interventions. We question this assumption and argue that ToC’s focus on cause–effect logic and intended outcomes does not do justice to the recursive nature of complex interventions such as advocacy. Supported by our work as evaluators, and specifically our case study of an advocacy program on child rights, we illustrate how advocacy evolves through recursive interactions, with outcomes that are emergent rather than predictable. We propose putting “practices of change” at the center by emphasizing human interactions, using the analytical lenses of strategies as practice and recursiveness. This provides room for emergent outcomes and implies a different use of ToC. In this article, we make a clear distinction between theoretical reality models and the real world of practices.

Reconciling participation and power in international development: a case study

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Newman
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
International Development ◽  
International Federation ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The People ◽  
The Uk

This chapter draws on the experience of ActionAid, one of the largest INGOs originally headquartered in the UK, and now an international federation of national NGOs. The organisation transformed its form and structure in order to be more deeply rooted in national civil society and more able to involve the voices and perspectives of those living in poverty in debates that affected them. In doing this it recruited different staff and through doing this fundamentally altered the class make-up of the organisation, inadvertently recruiting staff from the elite class in various countries and thereby extending the distance between policy-makers and community organisers. The chapter argues that a lack of attention to class analysis undermined ActionAid’s theory of change and in fact moved the organisation further from the people it was hoping to represent and move closer to.

Developing mental health interventions

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhijit Nadkarni ◽  
Mary J. De Silva ◽  
Vikram Patel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Mrc Framework ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Structured Approach

Most mental health interventions are complex as they are made up of a number of interconnected components, acting both independently and interdependently. This inherent complexity makes the development and evaluation of such interventions a complex process. Following a structured approach to the development and evaluation of complex interventions helps ensure that the process is systematic, rigorous, and replicable. In this chapter we demonstrate how systematically conducted formative research, consistent with the MRC framework, will ensure that due consideration is given to the sociocultural and health systems context. We use the case study of an ongoing complex intervention development and evaluation program in India (PREMIUM) to illustrate the application of the development and feasibility/piloting phases of the MRC framework. We describe two complementary frameworks, the Normalization Process Theory and the Theory of Change that can be used to strengthen the MRC framework for the development of mental health interventions.

scholarly journals Developing Behaviour Change Interventions for Improving Access to Health and Hygiene for People with Disabilities: Two Case Studies from Nepal and Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Wilbur ◽  
Tess Bright ◽  
Thérèse Mahon ◽  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
Belen Torondel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Behaviour Change Interventions ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Access To Health

Limited evidence exists about how to design interventions to improve access to health care for people with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper documents the development of two behaviour change interventions. Case study one outlines the design of an intervention to improve uptake of referral for ear and hearing services for children in Malawi. Case study two describes the design of an intervention to improve menstrual hygiene management for people with intellectual impairments in Nepal. Both followed existing approaches—Medical Research Council Guidance for developing and evaluating complex interventions and Behaviour Centred Design. The purpose is to demonstrate how these frameworks can be applied, to document the interventions developed, and encourage further initiatives to advance health services targeting people with disabilities. Important components of the intervention design process were: (1) systematic reviews and formative research ensure that interventions designed are relevant to current discourse, practice and context; (2) people with disabilities and their family/carers must be at the heart of the process; (3) applying the theory of change approach and testing it helps understand links between inputs and required behaviour change, as well as ensuring that the interventions are relevant to local contexts; (4) involving creative experts may lead to the development of more engaging and appealing interventions. Further evidence is needed on the effectiveness of these types of interventions for people with disabilities to ensure that no one is left behind.

Qualitative Case Study Research Design

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tetnowski
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Real World ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Study Research

Qualitative case study research can be a valuable tool for answering complex, real-world questions. This method is often misunderstood or neglected due to a lack of understanding by researchers and reviewers. This tutorial defines the characteristics of qualitative case study research and its application to a broader understanding of stuttering that cannot be defined through other methodologies. This article will describe ways that data can be collected and analyzed.

Faculty Development: A Stage Model Matched to Blended Learning Maturation

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Fetters ◽  
Tova Garcia Duby
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Development ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Technology Enhanced Learning ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Curriculum Innovation ◽  
Enhanced Learning

Faculty development programs are critical to the implementation and support of curriculum innovation. In this case study, the authors present lessons learned from ten years of experience in faculty development programs created to support innovation in technology enhanced learning. Stages of curriculum innovation are matched to stages of faculty development, and important lessons for success as well as current challenges are delineated and discussed.

Slum Kampong Tourism “Jakarta Hidden Tour”: Designing Eco-Cultural Based Pro-Poor Tourism

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Retnayu Prasetyanti
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
System Thinking ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Economy Condition ◽  
Business Sectors ◽  
Community Movement

Forecasts of high tourism development in Jakarta, Indonesia, where massive poverty cases also exist, has directed tourism as a way of alleviating poverty; this is usually termed “pro-poor tourism” which involves multi variant stakeholders and interests. Jakarta has widespread poor areas called “slum Kampongs”, where government and business sectors are supported by international development agencies have tried to tackle down poverty by economy-community (eco-community) based development programs. However, distinguished from those programs, slum kampong development based pro-poor tourism is yet unsupported by bureaucracy agencies. “Jakarta Hidden Tour” (see “Jakarta Hidden Tour” in Trip Advisor) a “wild” tour activity which is promoted by community movement led by Ronny Poluan indicates a term of economy and cultural (eco-cultural) based slum kampong tourism that basically can pursue a better community development and economy condition through a unique culture and real life portrait experience. This paper analyses the dilemma of “Jakarta Hidden Tour” which is claimed as a poor exhibition while in another hand tries to offer a new design and approach of pro-poor tourism by utilizing thematic Kampong development with local culture excellences as such “Green Slum Kampong in Ciliwung river”, or “Sailor Slum Kampong in North Jakarta”. Key learn from Brazil with slum kampong tourism in Santa Marta is a motivation for government to live a recognition, that like any other global/industrial policies, tourism is highly driven by political interest. By conducting a system thinking perspective base, this paper analyses how “Jakarta Hidden Tour” and government’s supporting policy will ensure eco-cultural pro-poor tourism development and how stakeholders as a system’s element need to uphold poverty alleviation towards sustainability

Depression in the Developing World

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Minas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Development ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Culturally Informed ◽  
Global Understanding

This chapter provides an overview of what is known about prevalence, social determinants, treatment, and course and impact of depression in developing, or low- and middle-income, countries. The importance of culture in depression and in the construction and application of diagnostic classifications and in health and social services is highlighted, with a particular focus on the applicability of ‘Western’ diagnostic constructs and service systems in developing country settings. The role of international organizations, such as WHO, and international development programs, such as the SDGs, in improving our understanding of depression and in developing effective and culturally appropriate responses is briefly examined. There is both a need and increasing opportunities in developing countries for greater commitment to mental health of populations, increased investment in mental health and social services, and culturally informed research that will contribute to improved global understanding of mental disorders in general and depression in particular.

scholarly journals Reservoir Sediment Management Using Artificial Neural Networks: A Case Study of the Lower Section of the Alpine Saalach River

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 818
Author(s):  
Markus Reisenbüchler ◽  
Minh Duc Bui ◽  
Peter Rutschmann
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Lower Section ◽  
Reservoir Sediment ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann

Reservoir sedimentation is a critical issue worldwide, resulting in reduced storage volumes and, thus, reservoir efficiency. Moreover, sedimentation can also increase the flood risk at related facilities. In some cases, drawdown flushing of the reservoir is an appropriate management tool. However, there are various options as to how and when to perform such flushing, which should be optimized in order to maximize its efficiency and effectiveness. This paper proposes an innovative concept, based on an artificial neural network (ANN), to predict the volume of sediment flushed from the reservoir given distinct input parameters. The results obtained from a real-world study area indicate that there is a close correlation between the inputs—including peak discharge and duration of flushing—and the output (i.e., the volume of sediment). The developed ANN can readily be applied at the real-world study site, as a decision-support system for hydropower operators.

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