Theory of change and Tunisian youth :COMPLEX BUT NOT COMPLICATED

I was somehow blocked before coming to Canada within the "COADY INSTITUTE PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTING WOMEN GLOBAL LEADERS", i always preceived change as big picture to which we are  struggling to reach as Tunisian youth ,especially after the Arab spring.
However,i came to understand that the change is not a sudden event or a vision but rather a fluid thematic area called :"Theory of change ".
This theory puts "change" under its focus as united blocks where all actors work in harmony to bring long-term goals ,and by actors we mean for exemple:Goverment (local and central),the civil society(grassroots ,NGOS ..),media (formal and non-formal like social media),policy makers ,advocates ...

THE LIST GOES ON ACTUALLY FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM IN THE SOCIETAL STRUCTURAL PROCESS.

In fact,any facilitator who wants to duplicates such activity with his mentees can ask them to start narrowing the different pillars with whom the participant is interesting to build partnerships ,or negotiating  to get sponsorship ,or rather lobbying to make this change possible.

This mapping is called:"Pathway of  a change Map" where he/she will start even to put himself in the shoes of an actor with whom he does not  even agree as it will help to figure out your potential partners and also the general mindset of such components.

Actually ,in Tunisia we have like any other country such web of activities which are often tied to an intervention in order to bring the change that we need .

I was surprised to learn that a country like "HAITI"which is located in the  Carribeans somehow has the same fragmented autocratic pillars as in Tunisia .This scenario of shattered actors who are stuck into egocentric competition without looking for a common interest to empower the country on all lever,have affected as well the way citizens behave (we will learn about the behavioural trend in other articles).

Coming back to the theory of change ,we cannot talk about such gain if the stakeholders reject the culture of communication and block any fruitful negotiations,for instance:In Tunisia if an association is working on engaging youth in decision-making ,it will automatically avoid any discussion with any political party just to protect itsef from the accusation of being supported by that actor .Here ,we have got a big ALARM,as political parties and the civil society should pave the way for :strategic planning ,negotiations,creation of commonly understood long-term goals and policies for the better of the country .we cannot work each in his own ocean.
These steps make up this process of "theory of change Approach".
Eventually ,this process is crowned by an evaluation of  the measurable indicators (qualitative which "reflects people judgments and perceptions and involvement of quality ,extent ,or congruence within a given situation") and (quantative:statistical statement about the situation ,involvement of percentage,frequency,ratio or variance").
 Describing indicators is very important but we cannot say an indicator is  being smart but rather :

"valid,Reliable,simple,specific ,accurate,useful,affordable,timely ,measurable....."

To end our article for today ,we should not confuse  the pre-conditions and the actors as the pre-conditions are the factors which will help us to implement and achieve our long-term goals and actors are the stakeholders .Giving an exemple of the pre-conditions for my project which is a social entreprise ,i need funding ,mentorship ,supportive community ,and the grassroots to make this initiative a reality and the actors will be more related to what i have mentioned in the beginning of this article (civil society ,labor unions,government with its agenices ..)

*This article was produced based on lectures presented by Molly DEN HEYER and an extract from CENTER FOR THEORY OF CHANGE 

VISIT THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS :

http://www.theoryofchange.org/what-is-theory-of-change/