Позитивные изменения. Том 1, №1 (2021). Positive changes. Volume 1, Issue 1 (2021)

It is worth paying attention to the removal of the “impact" category beyond the limits of the impact chain evaluation in the GIIN approach described above. We can say that such a position is common and represents a trend in the modern sense of the term. This, in particular, is noted by one of the leading international experts in the field of academic research for project and program evaluation, the author of the concept of 4 Strategies, Alnur Ebrahim [Ebrahim, 2019].

Thus, if we proceed from the global modern trends in this concept definition, we can say that the impact concept is becoming more and more “common noun", defining in general the whole range of concepts related to the project results description, with the exception of only immediate results. We also recommend using this understanding in the language corpora to develop a model for evaluation the social and economic impact of social projects. This is the definition used in this paper.

THE THEORY OF CHANGES AS THE BASIC PROBABLE COMPONENT OF THE MODEL FOR SOCIAL PROJECTS ASSESSMENT

One of the most researched and described in the scientific literature basic constructs and bases of evaluation is the concept of the Theory of Change (ToC) of the project, which is a clear and precise description of the alleged relationships between the causes (actions) and the expected effects (results) that are planned to be achieved under project, indicating the conditions for achieving each of the levels of results. The Theory of Change explains the reasons why certain approaches to solving the problem are used, as well as how these approaches will lead to the desired changes.

As noted by A. I. Kuzmin, the author of the first Russian-language publication on the Theory of Changes, ToC can be used as a tool for solving a whole range of problems [A. I. Kuzmin, N. A. Kosheleva, 2014]:

• As a project results describing tool;

• Design tool (project design intent development);

• A way to visualize the project intent;

• A way to justify the causal relationship between project activities and their results;

• A way to define project impact boundaries;

• Basis for the formation of a project monitoring system;

• Basis for project evaluation;

• A way to “archive" good practices in a generalized form.

Traditionally and in its most general form, the Theory of Change is most often presented in the form of a map of expected results, showing how the actions under project will lead to the achievement of the project goal, and a list of assumptions or conditions under which this “theory" will work, which the authors of the project expect to comply with and which, at the same time, are beyond their influence.

The Theory of Change is one of the most common tools used to describe the social technology of a project, for the purpose of its subsequent evaluation. In other words terminology wise, it can be attributed specifically to the field of projects and programs evaluation. It has been actively studied in this area. So, you can find various classifications of types of ToC, approaches to its development, including specialized software, author developed approaches to assessment based on ToC, etc.

The Theory of Change development can be called one of the universal tools used in project evaluation.

EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH IN SOCIAL PROJECTS ASSESSMENT

Another fundamental term is closely related to the Theory of Change theme. It is the evidence based approach of the social technology applied in a particular case. Generally speaking, the evidence-based approach is an approach based on the application of research methods, on the search and study of arguments that confirm that the set of actions carried out within approach does indeed lead to the desired change.

The evidence-based approach to social design is actively developed and implemented nowadays. This is evidenced by both the increase in the number of scientific publications and outside academic discussions and even the creation of educational programs in line with the evidence-based approach (an example of such initiative is the master’s program Evidence-Based Design and Evaluation of Programs in Social Risk Management in Childhood, opened five years ago at MSUPE (Moscow State University of Psychology and Education)).