• Social effects are the short- and medium-term effects of results given the conditions and prerequisites are met, lasting changes in the lives of target audiences.
• Impact is the long-term effects of social effects given the conditions and prerequisites are met. It is the connection between the project and the problem posed — what exactly the project contributes to solving it, how that contribution is measured, and what proves that it can happen.
The outcome of the Theory of Positive Change is a coherent map of results aimed at solving problems and their causes from the problem tree, with the respective indicators, rationales for logical relationships, and causal assumptions. A logical framework for the Theory of Positive Change methodology is presented below.
By the end of 2022, the Theory of Positive Change developed by the Factory will be available as an open online tool, enabling more projects to plan and evaluate social impact.
The theory of change is a tool for developing and managing positive social change projects. The methodology, first mentioned in 1997, according to its own principles, is in the process of continuous development. Over the past 20 years, the project documentation on the theory of change model has become a mandatory requirement for both impact investment and systematic evaluation of the social results achieved. In Russia, theory of change is just starting to be implemented and used as a basis for social impact. The Theory of Positive Change is presented as one of the steps toward the implementation of the theory of change methodology in Russia. An important factor in the dissemination of this tool, in our opinion, will be the creation of an easily accessible and convenient online tool for completing and visualizing the path from A to B — towards achieving greater impact of the project.