Theories of Change in Sustainability Science
Publisher: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
Author(s): Christoph Oberlack, Thomas Breu, Markus Giger, Nicole Harari, Karl Herweg, Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel, Peter Messerli, Stephanie Moser, Cordula Ott, Isabelle Providoli, Theresa Tribaldos, Anne Zimmerman, Flurina Schneider
Date: 2019
Topics: Monitoring and Evaluation, Programming, Renewable Resources
Science-based initiatives generate particular changes towards sustainable development. But why and how does this work? Theories of change (ToCs) can help in understanding the theoretical assumptions and modes of knowledge production associated with these initiatives: ToCs trigger debate among the stakeholders and evaluators of an initiative regarding the hypothesized and observed effects of actions as well as regarding underlying assumptions about how change happens. Therefore, they can strengthen the effectiveness of research, practice, and education in sustainability science.