thinking space
Impact assessment
More often than not, it is argued that employment programmes are too generic, based on wrong assumptions and rely on thin evidence, it is vital for projects to be developed around a clearly defined Theory of Change (ToC) and a well-founded impact assessment framework. A ToC is meant to explain the causal relationship between the planned interventions and the desired change. An impact assessment framework instead attempts to measure that change by evaluating the effects of such interventions. Both instruments enable policymakers, funders, and program designers to access solid evidence of what works and how and what does not work and why in the world of youth employment programs. This section explains how to develop a ToC and how to conduct an impact evaluation in the context of a project targeting NEETs.
Thinking Space Paper No.21: Developing a Theory of Change
Developing the Theory of Change (ToC) is about analyzing the underlying assumptions on which a program or intervention is based and explaining the causal relationship to produce the desired change. A ToC comprehensively illustrates how and why the desired change is expected to happen in the particular context, where the planned interventions take place.
Thinking Space Paper No.22: Creating an impact assessment framework
An impact assessment framework attempts to measure the change by evaluating the effects of the implemented interventions. This instrument enables policymakers, funders, and program designers to access substantial evidence of what works and how and what does not work and why in the world of youth employment programs. This Thinking Space paper explains how to build an impact assessment framework in the context of a project targeting NEETs.