Project “Superwoman” Theory of Change (Original English Version)
This is a guided example of a Theory of Change exercise for a program called “Project Superwoman” that ActKnowledge created in partnership with the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change.
ActKnowledge conducted the original evaluation on which this guided Theory of Change example is based.
Project Superwomen was a real program that started as a collaboration between a social
service provider, a non-profit employment training center and a domestic violence shelter to
help female abuse survivors to create long-term, livable wage employment opportunities for
women who had been victims of domestic violence. The three organizations began their
program with two basic assumptions (which are integral to their theory of change):
1. Non-traditional jobs, such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, building management
provide better wages and more opportunities for upward mobility and are more likely
to have unions. Therefore, job stability and good wages are more likely if women
are trained in these areas.
2. Women who have been through domestic abuse need more than job training to
move to economic stability. They need to develop coping skills, workplace
behaviors, and have child care available. They also need to be able to manage crises
in their lives and such events as court appearances and dealing with the foster care
system. If these aspects of their lives are not taken into account, any job training
will not likely lead to permanent employment.
This guided example walks you through the steps and processes leading up to and incorporated in creating a Theory of Change.
Project Superwomen was a program. Theories of Change are often used for single
programs like this, however, one strength of the Theory of Change approach is that it can be
used for initiatives that may comprise many programs and partners. For the purposes of a
tutorial to convey the basic processes and concepts of Theory of Change, this guided example focuses on just a single program.
