theory of change
nounUK /ˈθɪəri əv tʃeɪndʒ/
US /ˈθɪri əv tʃeɪndʒ/
A theory of change is a plan that explains how and why a big goal will happen step by step.
The charity wrote a theory of change to show how its new school program would help children learn to read.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A diagram or written map showing the steps between actions and long-term results.
The team drew a theory of change linking teacher training to better test scores.
3. The set of beliefs about how social change happens that guides a project's design.
Their theory of change assumes that giving loans to women lifts whole families out of poverty.
4. A tool used by funders to check whether a project's plan is realistic.
The grant application asked for a short theory of change before approving the money.