Theory of Change: From Activities to Impact

Map clear pathways connecting activities to measurable outcomes that satisfy donor requirements and guide implementation. Online certificate course.

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Self-Study Certificate Course

Start: Immediate Access
Time Commitment: Around 15 hours
Investment: $225 (or $150 for limited budgets)


What's Your Theory of Change?

Proposals fail when donors can't follow your logic. More and more are asking this question—and too many organizations struggle to answer it convincingly. In humanitarian and development work, traditional planning tools alone aren't always enough. Donors want to see your deeper thinking: the assumptions behind your logic and exactly how change happens in your context. Without a rigorous Theory of Change, organizations face:

  • Rejected proposals when donors can't follow your logic from activities to impact
  • Projects built on flawed assumptions about how change happens
  • Wasted efforts implementing activities that don't create transformation
  • Teams working hard without understanding how their efforts combine
  • Missing what actually drives change in your specific context

This practical training introduces a more strategic and deliberate way of planning for change. You'll work backwards from your desired impact, surface hidden assumptions, and build theories that satisfy donors while guiding implementation. Through Theory of Change development, you can:

  • Answer "What's your theory of change?" with confidence and clarity
  • Work backwards from desired impact to design what's actually needed
  • Question and validate assumptions at every level of your design
  • Create and present compelling causal pathways that donors understand
  • Align teams for greater impact

Who This Is For

This training is for people working in relief, development, or humanitarian contexts who need to map out exactly how their work leads to real change. It's ideal for:

  • Project planners connecting activities to outcomes with structured tools
  • M&E professionals clarifying and measuring community impact
  • Program managers communicating project logic to donors and communities
  • Proposal writers strengthening their projects' theoretical foundations
  • Field staff building participatory TOC frameworks for local ownership

No prior experience needed—the course delivers clear, practical guidance for newcomers while providing strategic insights and advanced applications for seasoned practitioners.


How You'll Learn

This course offers a self-paced, practical learning experience, combining study materials, reflections, exercises, and end-of-module assessments. Designed around the real-world challenges faced by humanitarian and development professionals, the course encourages you to pause, reflect, and actively develop skills you can confidently apply to your own context as you learn.

Flexible self-study Access practical downloadable video presentations, transcripts, handouts, exercises, templates and tasks, allowing you to learn and apply skills at your own pace.

Knowledge checks Assessments at the end of each module test your understanding, reinforce learning, and help you reflect on key concepts.

Course Discussion Forum Share questions, insights, and challenges with peers. Instructor Neil Kendrick monitors and responds regularly to support your progress.

Certificate of completion Successfully complete all modules and assessments to receive your certificate.


Impact Stories

9.3/10 Rating (based on 57 reviews)

"A systematic approach that works. We just submitted a proposal to USAID and they specifically praised our Theory of Change section. First time in 8 years we got approved without revisions." — Patricia Nkomo, Program Director, Health Alliance Zimbabwe

"I took several courses on the Theory of Change, but Neil's teaching approach is practical, elaborative, and comprehensive." — Mir Ahmed

"It thoroughly covers Theory of Change practices and effectively addresses complexity and context-specific factors with practical examples." — Vamathevan Valavan


Course Details

Start: Immediate access upon enrollment
Duration: Self-paced (around 20 hours total)
Investment: $225 (or $150 for limited budgets)

Includes:

  • Lifetime access to comprehensive modules with downloadable videos, handouts, and transcripts
  • Practical templates and planning tools for immediate application
  • End-of-module assessments and certificate of completion
  • Course discussion forum to share insights and questions with peers

Course developed and presented by Neil Kendrick, founder of ELD Impact, with 25+ years of experience training humanitarian professionals across 20+ countries.

Program Overview

Click any module to see content

+
Welcome to the Course
2 lessons
  • Getting Started
  • Pre-Course Self-Assessment: Rate Your Current Skills
+
Theory of Change Foundations
6 lessons
  • Introduction to Theory of Change
  • Importance of TOC in Relief Humanitarian and Development Work
  • Role of Assumptions in TOC
  • Goals Outcomes and Impact in TOC
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
+
Theory of Change in Practice
8 lessons
  • Mapping Causal Pathways
  • Assumptions in Theory of Change
  • Building Partnerships - Stakeholder Engagement in Theory of Change Development
  • Partnership Case Study - Community Resilience
  • Partnership Case Study - Social Inclusion
  • Integrating Theory of Change into Project Logic Models and Frameworks
  • Linking Activities Outputs Outcomes and Impacts
  • Progress Assessment
+
Addressing Complexity and Context-Specific Factors in TOC
13 lessons
  • Complexity and Context Specific Factors in Project Planning
  • Adaptability and Flexibility
  • Incorporating Participatory Approaches
  • Utilizing Systems Thinking
  • Addressing Power Dynamics
  • Importance of Contextual Analysis
  • Building Partnerships and Collaboration
  • Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning
  • Addressing Complexity - Case Study - Disaster Response
  • Addressing Complexity - Case Study - Humanitarian Assistance
  • Addressing Complexity - Case Study - Livelihoods Development
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
+
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Adaptive Management and Application
8 lessons
  • Collecting Data to Measure Progress and Outcomes
  • Designing Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Frameworks Based on TOC Principles
  • Adaptive Management and Course Correction
  • Case Studies and Best Practices
  • Steps to Creating a Theory of Change
  • Lessons Learned and Next Steps
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
+
Wrapping Up
4 lessons
  • Final Self-Assessment: Reflect on Your Learning and Growth
  • Reflection & Action Planning
  • Course Discussion Forum
  • Your Next Steps

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