Resources for Research Planning and Evaluation

Our program has developed and tested a Transdiciplinary Research Quality Assessment Framework and refined Theory of Change tools and approaches specifically tailored for change-oriented research. This page shares resources to guide conceptual understanding and practical application of these tools to support change-oriented research and evaluation.

Theory of Change Workshop Package

This folder contains multiple resources to support the design of a Theory of Change workshop for a research project or program.

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Theory of Change Overview

This infographic provides a comprehensive overview of the utility of Theory of Change for those who want to develop and apply a Theory of Change model in practice.

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TD-Net Toolbox: Theory of Change

TD-Net Toolbox houses an overview of the application and utility of Theory of Change in research contexts. The tool is intended for researchers and research managers interested in applying Theory of Change in their work.

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Theory of Change Sample Facilitating Questions

A set of example facilitating questions, which can provide a starting point for those interested in facilitating a workshop to develop a Theory of Change model.

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Theory of Change Templates

The following templates can be used to help document a Theory of Change model and structure systematic data collection through an evidence table to support effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning for research impact.

Open ToC Model Template (1)

Open ToC Model Template (2)

Download Evidence Table Template

Download Outcome Monitoring Template

Theory of Change Conceptual Guidance Video

This video, produced with our partners at the CGIAR, provides a conceptual overview of Theory of Change and its application in research-for-development contexts.

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Theory of Change: Guidance for OneCGIAR Initiatives

This document provides a conceptual overview of Theory of Change and outlines specific definitions adopted by the OneCGIAR. The document also explains the development process for a Theory of Change at different scales and how each is to be evaluated.

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Theory of Change: Strategies to Overcome Challenges

This infographic provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges encountered during a Theory of Change process and strategies to overcome them. A useful resource for those planning to apply Theory of Change for research project planning.

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Glossary

This glossary contains definitions for key terms frequently used by the Sustainability Research Effectiveness Program.

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Theory of Change: An Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography provides an overview of useful literature pertaining to Theory of Change for those who want to learn more about developing and applying Theory of Change in practice.

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Transdisciplinary Research Quality Assessment Framework Resource Package

This folder contains multiple resources to support the application of the Transdisciplinary Quality Assessment Framework to evaluate projects and/or proposals.

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Transdisciplinary Research Quality Assessment Framework 2.0 (Interactive Prezi)

This practical tool provides an interactive overview of the Quality Assessment Framework and links to other useful resources. This resource demonstrates how the framework can be used for research planning, adaptive management, evaluating (ex ante) research proposals, and evaluating (ex post) research projects.

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Transdisciplinary Research Quality Assessment Framework 2.0 Principles and Criteria

This document provides a set of guiding principles and corresponding criteria for effective design and implementation of transdisciplinary research, including definitions and guidance.

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QAF Infographic

This infographic provides a comprehensive overview of the revised Transdisciplinary Research Quality Assessment Framework for the planning, adaptive management, and evaluation of transdisciplinary research.

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QAF Scoring Template

This template can be used to record and justify QAF scores.

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QAF Spidergram Template

This template can be used to record and visualize QAF scores in ‘spidergrams’.

Download Excel Template

Please connect with us to share how you have used and adapted our resources. Altogether, we aim to provide useful resources for application.