Lessons in theory of change: gender and inclusion

Abstract

Elaborating a gender and social differentiation outcome story that we wanted to tell by 2016 generated greater ownership of the program by the research team, and eased partner engagement in the plan. Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (ML&E) can be simplified by narrowing the number of indicators across projects, with often more than one project contributing to an indicator. Outcome indicators are the most important, because they ensure appropriate progress over time while increasing real-time learning beyond the research process, particularly in how to target gender transformation as a goal. Emphasis should be placed on involving the whole team in impact pathway development, including project partners. While the CCAFS quantitative gender survey has generated the most progress in terms of reducing the gender and climate change knowledge gap, the social learning process used to develop the participatory Gender and Inclusion Toolbox has been the most effective for generating partner and next-user capacity in gender awareness and transformative approaches.