Theories of Change and Indicator Development in Conflict Management and Mitigation

This report presents background information and key content related to a USAID-sponsored workshop on Theories of Change Indicator Development. The report opens with a brief review of theories of change and then of the conflict field's engagement with theories of change thus far, including USAID/DCHA/CMM's initiative in this area. Next, the theory of change and conflict assessment concepts are differentiated, and the role that theories of change can play for improved conflict program design, monitoring, and evaluation are discussed. The report then summarizes the workshop's sessions and key indicator and theory of change refinement outputs. The report concludes by presenting next research agenda steps to strengthen the theories of change underpinning conflict management and mitigation and the use of indicators for focusing evaluation of these programs.