Evaluating Systems Change: Testing Assumptions, Reflecting, and Building Capacity

Intermediary organizations working to further complex systems change often struggle to truly understand their impact - both on their partners, and communities. Through several measurement, learning, and evaluation projects, Third Plateau has supported organizations across the democracy, faith-based, and workers’ rights fields to clearly identify and measure progress toward intended outcomes - some directly impacting partner organizations and other longer-term outcomes intended to further community and nationwide change. Through a case-story approach, this session will explore several projects involving intermediary organizations seeking systems-level change. We will walk through how we leveraged evaluator’s tools i.e., theories of change, logic models, stakeholder feedback, and organizational reflection to test assumptions and examine how to better meet their partner and community needs. Additionally, we will explore how Third Plateau supported organizations to build their own evaluation capacity. Join us to explore how evaluation can transform an organization's understanding of their positionality and impact.