Six key findings on the use of theories of change in international development

The Theory of Change approach is becoming a pervasive part of development practice: as an artefact, as a management tool, and increasingly as a common discourse which implementers use to explain and explore their interventions. My new JSRP paper, ‘Theories of Change in international development: communication, learning or accountability?’ seeks to address a critical gap in understanding the actual effects of using a Theory of Change approach in international development work and considers how the approach may be better understood, if its aim is to improve development policy and practice. It does so through an analysis of the emerging findings of a collaboration between the JSRP and The Asia Foundation. Six key findings have emerged from this research

Can theories of change reflect the realities of international development?

Can a ‘Theory of Change’ really be an honest, accurate and transparent reflection of how a development intervention may lead to change? Theories of Change are often required by donors in international development. They commonly take the form of a document describing how and why an organisation’s programme will make a difference on the ground. Yet the very fact that Theories of Change are demanded may create certain tensions and pressures which contradict the purpose of using them. The grand narratives found within Theories of Change (along with other donor-facing documents) may act as ‘mobilising metaphors’, telling us more about how the relationship between aid donors and receiving organisations functions than how a programme operates and/or has wider impacts

Reflections on theories of change in international development

Danielle Stein and Craig Valters have recently published Theories in Practice papers on Community Mediation and Social Harmony in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Here they raise some ongoing questions facing those engaging with Theories of Change

Somija Latvijas ārpolitikā, 1918.-1940.

Advisor: K.Hov

Modelling Geomorphic Systems: Landscape Evolution

Landscape evolution models (LEMs) present the geomorphologist with a means of investigating how landscapes evolve in response to external forcings, such as climate and tectonics, as well as internal process laws. LEMs typically incorporate a range of different geomorphic transport laws integrated in a way that simulates the evolution of a 3D terrain surface forward through time. The strengths of LEMs as research tools lie in their ability to rapidly test many different hypotheses of landscape evolution, to investigate the importance of particular processes by isolating them within a model, and to make quantitative predictions of geomorphic change within landscapes. LEMs can be applied to situations lasting from days to millions of years in real time, but reduce this to minutes or hours in model run-time. This chapter presents a brief introduction to the underlying principles of landscape evolution modelling, followed by an overview of the features of currently available, commonly-used models, and example applications from recent literature. Suggestions for dealing with common pitfalls in landscape evolution modelling, calibration, and confirming model predictions are also discussed

LATGALES POLITISKAIS KONTEKSTS STARPKARU LATVIJĀ

Pētījumā ir aplūkota Latgales politiskā vide starpkaru Latvijā (20. gadsimta. 20.–30. gados). Pētījuma mērķis ir izsekot latgaliešu politisko organizāciju darbībai, raksturojot to līdzdalību politiskajos procesos nacionālā līmenī, to politisko ideoloģiju, taktiku un stratēģiju, pieņemot lēmumus parlamentā. Visu demokrātijas laikposmu valsts parlamentā ir bijušas pārstāvētas politiskās partijas, kuras veidotas ar uzdevumu pārtsāvēt Latgales un latgaliešu intereses nacionālā mērogā. Neraugoties uz 15. maija autoritārā apvērsuma radītajām izmaiņām, arī 20. gadsimta 30. gadu otrajā pusē vairāki latgaliešu politiskie darbinieki turpināja atrasties politiskajā elitē un zināmā mērā ietekmēt politisko lēmumu pieņemšanas procesu. Lai saprastu latgaliešu politisko spēku iespējas un dinamiku, kontekstuāli ir aplūkots Latvijas politiskais spektrs, kas ļauj konkretizēt Latgales politisko organizāciju darbības praktiskos un teorētiskos aspektus. Tēmas izklāstā pievērsta uzmanība atsevišķu politisko spēku darbībai, evolūcijai, kā arī atsevišķu nozīmīgāko politiķu rīcībai un uzskatiem. Sīkāk ir aplūkots konservatīvais, liberālais virziens, kā arī sociālisti un latgaliešu nacionālisti, viņu politiskās organizācijas, nozīmīgākie līderi. Priekšlasījumā aplūkota arī latgaliešu politiķu darbība pēc 15. maija apvērsuma, analizētas viņu iespējas lēmumu pieņemšanas procesos, kā arī provizoriskā pretdarbība autoritārajai politikai

Consumer values driven purchasing behaviour: a practical approach for market potential assessment

Consumer purchasing behaviour is driven by complex social behaviours which influence the choice of brands, products or distribution channels. The objective of the paper is to analyse consumer social value dynamics in Latvia and develop consumer values based approach to explain purchasing behaviour and assess future market trends and potential on a case of the Latvian insurance market. Analysis is based on empirical sociological data from representative national value surveys which is used to segment customers and identify the relationship between their values and future preferences for insurance consumption. The paper reveals an empirical evidence of values being a determinant in choice among propositions, describes a simple and practical approach of applying values based segmentation to explain consumer preferences and behaviour as well as suggests strategic directions for market players to gain competitive advantages