Practice Paper in Brief: Learning about Theories of Change for the Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Uptake

This paper was prompted by recent experience of developing ‘theories of change’ amongst organisations involved in research uptake. Over the years a great deal has been written about the research-policy interface, with much of it highlighting the inherent complexity of the processes by which research informs and influences policy (or otherwise). Many practitioners are familiar with the literature, but finding meaningful ways to measure results in this area often proves to be a challenge. This paper captures a collection of lessons from recent experience in facilitating and developing theories of change for programmes that seek to promote the use of research in policymaking processes.