Skip to main content

Adopting a Theory of Change Approach for ICT4D Project Impact Assessment - The Case of CMES Project

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D (ICT4D 2019)

Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 552))

Abstract

A compendium of impact assessment (IA) frameworks are available to understand the impact of ICT4D initiatives in Low Income Countries. However, existing frameworks do not adequately address the unique challenges of IA for ICT4D, especially the multi-level and time variant characteristics of the IA. To address these challenges, we propose the use of Theory of change (ToC) as a generic framework for IA of ICT4D projects. Based on the seminal work by Weiss [8], we argue that ToC can be viewed both as a methodology and a deep critical reflection process. We demonstrate the ToC approach for IA using a case study of an ICT4D project for LICs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    www.theoryofchange.com.

  2. 2.

    Assumption. In oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/assumption.

  3. 3.

    www.cmesworld.org.

  4. 4.

    https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/.

References

  1. SDGs UN, Transforming Our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Resolution Adopted by the UN General Assembly, 25 September 2015

    Google Scholar 

  2. Heeks, R., Molla, A.: Compendium on impact assessment of ICT-for-development projects. In: Development Informatics. Development Informatics Group, Manchester (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Flor, A.: Constructing theories of change for information society impact research. In: Chib, A., May, J., Barrantes, R. (eds.) Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South, pp. 45–62. Springer, Singapore (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-381-1_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Lennie, J., Tacchi, J.: Researching, monitoring and evaluating communication for development: Trends, challenges and approaches. Report on a literature review and Consultations with Expert Reference Group and UN Focal Points on C4D. UNICEF (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  5. James, C.: Theory of Change Review: A Report Commissioned by Comic Relief. Comic Relief, London (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Stein, D., Valters, C.: Understanding theory of change in international development. Justice and Security Research Programme, London (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Vogel, I.: Review of the Use of ‘Theory of Change’ in International Development. Department for International Development (DFID), UK (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Weiss, C.H.: Nothing as practical as good theory: exploring theory-based evaluation for comprehensive community initiatives for children and families. In: New Approaches to Evaluating Community Initiatives: Concepts, Methods, and Contexts, vol. 1, pp. 65–92 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Heeks, R.: Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). In: Binns, T. (ed.) Routledge Perspectives on Development. Routledge, London and New York (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Connell, J., Klem, A.: You can get there from here: using a theory of change approach to plan urban education reform. J. Educ. Psychol. Consult. 11(1), 93–120 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Weiss, C.H.: How can theory-based evaluation make greater headway? Eval. Rev. 21(4), 501–524 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Connell, J.P., et al.: New approaches to evaluating community initiatives. concepts, methods, and contexts. In: Roundtable on Comprehensive Community Initiatives for Children and Families. The Aspen Institute, New York (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mackenzie, M., Blamey, A.: The practice and the theory: lessons from the application of a theories of change approach. Evaluation 11(2), 151–168 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ndou, V.: E-Government for developing countries: opportunities and challenges. Electron. J. Inf. Syst. Dev. Ctries. 18(1), 1–24 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Batchelor, S.J.: Framework for the Assessment of ICT Pilot Projects Beyond Monitoring and Evaluation to Applied Research. InfoDev, Washington, DC (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jones, H., Hearn,S.: Outcome mapping: a realistic alternative for planning, monitoring and evaluation. Overseas Development Institute (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Organizational Research Services: Theory of Change: A Practical Tool For Action, Results and Learning, in Annie E. Casey Foundation (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Msila, V., Setlhako, A.: Evaluation of programs: reading Carol H. Weiss. Univ. J. Educ. Res. 1(4), 323–327 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bennett, F., Roche, C.: Developing indicators: the scope for participatory approaches. New Econ. 7(1), 24–28 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wilkins, J.L.: The relationship among elementary teachers’ content knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices. J. Math. Teacher Educ. 11(2), 139–164 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. Friedman, A.L., Shepeard, H.: Exploring the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and communication preferences of the general public regarding HPV: findings from CDC focus group research and implications for practice. Health Educ. Behav. 34(3), 471–485 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Scrimshaw, N.S., Gleason, G.R.: Rapid Assessment Procedures: Qualitative Methodologies for Planning and Evaluation of Health Related Programmes. International Nutrition Foundation for Developing Countries, Boston (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chambers, R.: The origins and practice of participatory rural appraisal. World Dev. 22(7), 953–969 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Tacchi, J., Slater, D., Lewis, P.: Evaluating community based media initiatives: an ethnographic action research approach. In: Information Technology for Development Conference (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Willetts, J., Crawford, P.: The most significant lessons about the most significant change technique. Dev. Pract. 17(3), 367–379 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Li, Y., Thomas, M.A., Rana, S.S.J.B., Stoner, D.: Continuing medical education on a stick: Nepal as a test bed. In: Choudrie, J., Islam, M.S., Wahid, F., Bass, J.M., Priyatma, J.E. (eds.) ICT4D 2017. IAICT, vol. 504, pp. 394–409. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59111-7_33

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Bennett, N.L., et al.: Continuing medical education: a new vision of the professional development of physicians. Acad. Med. 75(12), 1167–1172 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Cervero, R.M., Gaines, J.K.: Effectiveness of continuing medical education: updated synthesis of systematic reviews. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (2014)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Li, Y., Thomas, M.A. (2019). Adopting a Theory of Change Approach for ICT4D Project Impact Assessment - The Case of CMES Project. In: Nielsen, P., Kimaro, H. (eds) Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Strengthening Southern-Driven Cooperation as a Catalyst for ICT4D. ICT4D 2019. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 552. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19115-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19115-3_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19114-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19115-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics