About This Course
Effective programme design begins with a clear understanding of how change happens. Logic Models and Theories of Change (ToC) are among the most powerful and widely required tools in the development sector, providing a structured way to articulate assumptions, define intended outcomes, and establish the causal links between activities and impact. Yet many professionals are expected to use these tools without ever receiving formal training in their design, validation, or practical application.
This five-day training course, offered by TrainingComplex, addresses that gap comprehensively. Participants will move from foundational concepts — what a Logic Model is, how it differs from a Theory of Change, and why both matter — through to advanced application, including stakeholder co-creation, integrating equity and gender considerations, and using these frameworks to guide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems.
The course is grounded in real-world practice across a range of sectors including public health, education, livelihoods, governance, and humanitarian response. Participants engage with authentic case studies, review and critique existing models from funded programmes, and develop or refine their own frameworks within a structured, peer-supported environment. By the end of the course, each participant will leave with a completed Logic Model and Theory of Change that is ready for use in proposals, evaluation plans, or programme reviews.
Whether you are designing a new initiative from scratch, strengthening an existing programme, or responding to a donor's reporting requirements, this course provides the conceptual clarity and practical skills to do so with confidence and rigour.
Who Should Attend
- Programme and project managers in NGOs, INGOs, and government agencies
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) officers and advisors
- Development practitioners transitioning into planning or strategy roles
- Grant writers and proposal development specialists
- Donor liaison and reporting officers
- Policy analysts and public sector planners
- Researchers involved in applied development work
- Consultants providing programme design or evaluation support
Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between Logic Models and Theories of Change and explain when to use each tool
- Articulate programme assumptions, causal pathways, and change mechanisms with precision
- Design a complete Logic Model with inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact
- Develop a Theory of Change narrative supported by visual mapping and evidence
- Facilitate participatory ToC and Logic Model workshops with diverse stakeholders
- Integrate equity, inclusion, and gender dimensions into programme frameworks
- Align Logic Models and Theories of Change with donor reporting and proposal requirements
- Use Logic Models as the foundation for results frameworks and MEL planning
- Critique and strengthen existing Logic Models and Theories of Change
- Communicate programme theory effectively to internal and external audiences
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Programme Theory: Why Frameworks Matter
- The evolution of results-based management in international development
- Defining programme theory: assumptions, causal logic, and change mechanisms
- The policy and donor landscape driving demand for Logic Models and ToC
- Common misconceptions and failures in programme planning without a theory
- Overview of key frameworks: Logic Models, Results Chains, and Theories of Change
- How this course builds from concepts to a completed, usable framework
Module 2: Anatomy of a Logic Model
- Core components: inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact
- Distinguishing short-term, medium-term, and long-term outcomes
- The difference between outputs and outcomes — and why confusion is costly
- Reading and interpreting published Logic Models from funded programmes
- Common Logic Model formats: linear, tabular, and nested models
- Quality criteria for a well-constructed Logic Model
Module 3: Building Your Logic Model — Step by Step
- Conducting a situation analysis to ground the Logic Model in evidence
- Identifying and categorising programme inputs realistically
- Mapping activities to intended outputs with fidelity to programme scope
- Writing measurable outcome statements using SMART criteria
- Establishing the impact statement aligned with organisational mission
- Peer review and facilitator feedback on draft Logic Models
Module 4: Introduction to Theory of Change
- What a Theory of Change is — and what it is not
- The difference between a Logic Model and a Theory of Change
- Core elements: vision, preconditions, interventions, assumptions, and rationale
- Types of ToC: pathway, systems-thinking, and contribution models
- Reviewing published Theories of Change from development organisations
- When to develop a ToC alone and when to build one with a Logic Model
Module 5: Mapping Causal Pathways and Articulating Assumptions
- Identifying the critical preconditions for change in your programme context
- Mapping 'if-then' logic to build credible causal chains
- Surface and challenge hidden assumptions that underpin the theory
- Evidencing assumptions: what counts as sufficient justification
- Handling complexity, non-linearity, and unintended consequences
- Visual mapping techniques: pathway diagrams and outcome mapping
Module 6: Participatory ToC and Logic Model Development
- The case for co-creation: ownership, validity, and stakeholder buy-in
- Facilitation principles for inclusive programme theory workshops
- Tools and techniques: participatory mapping, card sorting, and gallery walks
- Managing power dynamics and diverse voices in co-creation settings
- Documenting and validating outputs from participatory sessions
- Practising a condensed ToC facilitation exercise with peer stakeholders
Module 7: Integrating Equity, Gender, and Social Inclusion
- Why equity and inclusion must be embedded — not added on — in programme theory
- Gender analysis as a foundation for inclusive Logic Models
- Identifying and addressing exclusion in causal pathways
- Social inclusion markers: disability, age, ethnicity, and marginalisation
- Donor expectations on equity-responsive programme design
- Reviewing and revising a Logic Model to strengthen inclusion dimensions
Module 8: Aligning Frameworks with Donor and Reporting Requirements
- Reading donor guidelines to extract Logic Model and ToC requirements
- Mapping Logic Model components to USAID, EU, FCDO, and UN result frameworks
- Writing ToC narratives for grant proposals and concept notes
- Common donor feedback on weak programme theories — and how to respond
- Adapting a single programme theory for multiple donor audiences
- Practical exercise: revising a framework to meet a sample call for proposals
Module 9: From Theory to Measurement: Linking Frameworks to MEL Systems
- How Logic Models drive indicator selection and results frameworks
- Developing a performance measurement framework from Logic Model outputs
- Linking ToC assumptions to learning questions and evaluation design
- Setting baselines and targets grounded in the causal logic
- Integrating adaptive management and CLA (Collaborating, Learning, Adapting) principles
- Designing a simple MEL plan aligned with the course programme theory
Module 10: Communicating and Applying Your Framework in Practice
- Tailoring Logic Model and ToC communication for different audiences
- Visual design principles for clear, compelling framework diagrams
- Presenting your Theory of Change to senior leadership and external stakeholders
- Embedding frameworks into programme management cycles and review processes
- Maintaining and updating Logic Models and Theories of Change over time
- Final presentations: participants share completed frameworks and receive structured feedback
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least one year of experience working in programme design, project management, or monitoring and evaluation within a development or public sector context. Basic familiarity with the project cycle — from planning through implementation to reporting — is assumed. No prior formal training in Logic Models or Theory of Change is required, making this course suitable for both newcomers to these tools and practitioners seeking to formalise and deepen existing knowledge.
Training Methodology
- Guided deconstruction of real Logic Models and Theories of Change drawn from funded NGO and donor-agency programmes
- Facilitated Theory of Change mapping exercises using sticky-note and digital whiteboard methods to build causal pathways collaboratively
- Small-group workshop simulations where participants practise facilitating a ToC co-creation session with peer role-players acting as programme stakeholders
- Structured peer critique rounds in which participants review and provide written feedback on each other's draft frameworks against a quality rubric
- Case study analysis comparing strong and weak Logic Models from health, education, and livelihoods programmes to identify common pitfalls
- Hands-on template work sessions where each participant constructs or refines their own organisation's Logic Model under facilitator guidance
- Donor alignment exercises matching Logic Model components to specific funder templates including EU, USAID, and FCDO result frameworks
- Reflective journalling prompts at the close of each day to consolidate learning and identify application opportunities in participants' own programmes
Organisational Benefits
- Improved quality and coherence of programme proposals submitted to donors
- Stronger alignment between programme design, implementation, and learning systems
- Enhanced staff capacity to independently develop and review planning frameworks
- Reduced revision cycles during proposal development and programme reviews
- Better articulation of organisational impact to funders, partners, and communities
- More effective MEL systems anchored in clear results chains
- Increased competitiveness in donor funding applications requiring explicit Theories of Change
- Strengthened institutional knowledge of evidence-based programme planning
Where Is Logic Models and Theory of Change Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Nairobi, Abuja, Kampala, Kigali, Johannesburg, Accra, Naivasha, Mombasa, Riyadh, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Arusha, Kisumu, Addis Ababa, Pretoria, Cape Town, Zanzibar, Nakuru, Dubai, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Mombasa, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,500 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,300 |
| Lagos, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
+233 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior experience with Logic Models or Theory of Change to attend?
No prior formal experience with these tools is required. The course begins with foundational concepts and progressively builds to advanced application, making it suitable for both newcomers and practitioners who have used these tools informally and wish to deepen their knowledge.
Will I produce a real framework during the course?
Yes. A core objective of this course is that every participant leaves with a completed or substantially advanced Logic Model and Theory of Change for a programme relevant to their own work. Facilitators provide structured guidance and feedback throughout the development process.
Is a certificate issued upon completion?
Yes. Participants who attend all five days and complete the required activities will receive a TrainingComplex Certificate of Completion in Logic Models and Theory of Change, which can be included in professional portfolios and submitted to employers or donors as evidence of specialist training.
What materials and tools will participants need to bring?
Participants should bring a laptop or tablet to access digital templates and resources provided by TrainingComplex. It is also helpful — though not mandatory — to bring existing programme documents, proposals, or reports from your organisation, as these can be used as the basis for your framework development exercises.
Is this course available for in-house or organisational group delivery?
Yes. TrainingComplex offers customised in-house delivery of this course for organisations wishing to train teams together using their own programme contexts as the basis for exercises. Contact TrainingComplex directly to discuss tailored scheduling, content adaptation, and group pricing.
