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⏰ Social Business Valuation training: Final Call for Registrations - Live Sessions starting April 8th

Theory of Change Design

Fast-track your ability to create a well-articulated impact strategy to communicate with funders, mobilise stakeholders and inform your impact measurement and validation needs.

Beginner to intermediate

4.3/5
4.3 out of 5 rating
Enhance your ability to design and plan effective social and environmental projects based on a systematic, powerful and internationally recognised framework. This course will empower you to identify the root causes of social issues, articulate goals, outcomes and activities and define the causal pathways that create positive change. Our experienced instructors will guide you from start to finish and provide relevant tools, templates and examples to turn theory into action.

What You'll Learn

Identify milestones and resources needed to develop a sound Theory of Change
Perform root-cause analysis and define relevant goals for your project
Conduct backwards mapping to outline causal linkages, assumptions and risks
Successfully engage stakeholders in the process and shape a compelling narrative
Define impact KPIs and a measurement plan to evaluate your impact

Course Modules

numbernumberModule 1: Purpose of a Theory of Change (2h00)

Get introduced to the purpose, benefits and key steps of developing a strong Theory of Change. Discover how to perform root-cause analysis and set compelling impact goals for your project.

number1number1Module 2: Pathways of change (2h30)

Learn how to apply the backward mapping approach to illuminate the causal relationships between your activities, outputs, outcomes and impact goals. Turn a visual map into a compelling narrative to communicate with your stakeholders.

number2number2Module 3: Validate your assumptions (2h00)

Develop a measurement plan based on strong impact indicators to start collecting meaningful data for reporting and decision-making whilst validating your Theory of Change along the way.

Delivery Options

Join 3 interactive sessions with an accredited trainer and a group of like-minded peers, on top of the self-paced course material! The hybrid package will help you confidently progress in your ability to design or evaluate a Theory of Change while giving you the opportunity to share experiences, expand your network and delve deeper into topics of interest.

March 2024

March 2, 14, 19
09:00 - 11:00 CET

September 2024

September 2, 14, 19
09:00 - 11:00 CET

The learning experience that fits your busy working schedule and allows you to learn at your own pace from wherever you are. Access > 6 hours of online course material and get the ins and outs to design or evaluate a Theory of Change.
Bite-sized videos with exercises
Insight videos from leading practitioners
Additional readings, templates & tools
Certificate of Completion

Self-paced

The learning experience that fits your busy working schedule and allows you to learn at your own pace from wherever you are. Access > 6 hours of online course material and get the ins and outs to design or evaluate a Theory of Change.

Hybrid

Join 3 interactive sessions with an accredited trainer and a group of like-minded peers, on top of the self-paced course material! The hybrid package will help you confidently progress in your ability to design or evaluate a Theory of Change while giving you the opportunity to share experiences, expand your network and delve deeper into topics of interest.

March 2024

March 8, 22 | April 12, 26

From 10:00 AM CET/CEST

The Team offer blends theory, practical case studies, break-out conversations and interactions with the expert to build the design and evaluation of a Theory of Change at the core of your organisation.
Choose the delivery format (e.g. self-paced, live in-person/online or hybrid)
Schedule flexibly based on your team’s agenda
Live session content tailored to different profiles in your team
Dedicated learner success management

Let's talk!

What Our Clients Say

Our Expert Trainers

This training is developed with Mainlevel Consulting and 4th Wheel Social Impact, two boutique advisory firms with extensive experience in the design and implementation of impact strategies across the public and private sectors.

 

Sharon Weir co-founded 4th Wheel Social Impact in 2010. She has designed and implemented more than 100 research, evaluation and communication projects in the public and private sectors across domains from education to health, women empowerment and CSR.

 

Tatjana Mauthofer is a senior expert in monitoring and evaluation and social impact management at Mainlevel Consulting. She guides global development and social impact groups (e.g., GIZ, UNWomen, Fairtrade Germany) in formulating Theory of Change and creating innovative evaluation methods for outcome measurement.

Related Insights

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find the answer to your question? Contact us on support@efiko.academy.

1. Who is this course for?

This course is designed for impact project leaders, funders and sustainability consultants eager to learn an internationally recognised framework for planning and designing social and environmental projects. No prior experience is required – the course offers a step-by-step approach for designing a Theory of Change from start to finish.

2. Is this a course for beginners or experts?

This course is mainly designed for social entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, Measurement & Evaluation officers and intermediaries supporting social purpose organisations. While prior practical experience is a plus, it is no pre-requisite to start the course. The complexity of the content increases with every chapter but many examples, exercises and case studies will help you build self-confidence and deep understanding of each step of the journey. 

3. Does this course offer a certificate?

Yes, a certificate signed by 4th Wheel Social Impact, Mainlevel Consulting and Efiko Academy, is provided upon completion of the course.

4. I don’t understand something in the course, who can answer my questions?

In all packages, you’re invited to join the community platform where you can ask your burning questions. 
In other cases,  is always open for questions.

5. In which languages can I access the course?

For now, the course is only available in English.

The content will soon be subtitled in various languages.

6. Will I get accredited when completing the course?

After finishing the training and successfully passing the final examination, you can earn the course Official Certificate of Completion co-delivered by Mainlevel Consulting, 4th Wheel Social Impact and Efiko Academy.

7. Who are the course partners - 4th Wheel Social Impact and Mainlevel Consulting?

As a research and advisory firm, 4th Wheel provides valid and sophisticated insights into social welfare programmes to enable data-driven decisions. Practical and culturally relevant social impact assessment strategies are designed for organisations that involve all stakeholders, not just evaluation experts. Impact evaluation is incorporated into programme design by developing contextual Theory of Change (ToC) frameworks and building impact-focused solutions.


Mainlevel provides services in monitoring, evaluation and digitalisation to organisations in the public and private sectors. From developing digital monitoring systems and conducting evaluations to strategic guidance on digitalisation and developing IT solutions, they are committed to enabling our clients to manage complex programmes more effectively and efficiently.
8. Can I pay with PayPal or debit card?

Yes, we offer the option to pay with a credit card (Mastercard, VISA) or PayPal. If you would like to pay with your debit card, we advise you to create a free prepaid PayPal account here and use it to make your payment.

9. How secure are the payments made on Efiko?

Every transaction on Efiko is performed and secured by Stripe, a reliable payment processor.

10. Can I sign up for a course with my team or department?

Yes, you can secure several tickets at once by contacting us at . Include the number of people you would like to enrol and we’ll get back to you promptly. We also offer B2B/group deals. Don’t hesitate to contact us to request a demo.

11. Can I pay even if my native currency is not the Euro?
Yes, Stripe processes payments in 130+ currencies. PayPal also allows you to convert money to a different currency.
12. Can I ask for an invoice?
Yes, we can provide an invoice or proof of purchase so you can get reimbursed by your employer or company. Simply reach out to us at support@efiko.academy stating the course name and package you’d like to take and for how many people.
13. Can I get reimbursed in case I’m not satisfied with the course?
Yes, we do offer reimbursement on the course in case you’re not satisfied with it. The reimbursement applies following these conditions:
 
a) Up to 15 calendar days after you enrolled to the course or up until 5 days after the introductory session if you register as Social Learner;
b) The guarantee applies up until you consume 20% of the course content;
 
Contact support@efiko.academy to ask for a reimbursement. We will review your request and in case your demand complies with the above conditions we will transfer the amount you paid, minus transaction costs.

Let’s Talk!

We are here to empower you or your teams in adopting sound sustainability practices. Contact us if you wish to discuss your needs and explore suitable solutions.

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Do you have questions about this Competence Framework or Efiko's training opportunities? Reach out to us via email at support@efiko.academy!

Best wishes,
The Efiko Academy team