A pragmatic approach to assessing system change

Planning for and assessing system change is a strategic management issue. It is critical for everything from developing a strategy and designing interventions, to adapting strategy, improving implementation and reporting impact.

But many programmes get stuck when it comes to assessing system change. The private sector development field has struggled to agree on an approach that programmes can implement and stakeholders can understand.

However, some mature programmes are starting to assess system change more effectively. Building on these emerging practices, this overview paper summarises the approach that programmes can use to assess system changes regularly and practically.

It explores how to:

• develop a system change strategy and intervention plans that lay the groundwork for system change assessment, including how to set system boundaries and how to identify the system changes a programme aims to catalyse
• assess system changes using both:
    - an intervention lens focused on changes introduced by specific interventions
    - a helicopter lens that provides a whole system view

By analysing findings from both lenses, programmes can improve their strategy and report on their contribution to system change.

• Read also the how to put it into practice paper which provides more detailed implementation guidance, worked examples, and useful tips
• Use this accompanying slide deck which highlights the most critical elements of assessing system change and provide practical tips on how to start applying the pragmatic approach

• Related blogs:

• A pragmatic approach to measuring system change
• Causality counts. Not the counterproductive debate on attribution or contribution
• Want to assess system change? Just get started
• Defining and assessing market system resilience: demystification is needed

Watch recording of these related BEAM webinars:

• March 2022: Get started on assessing system change
• April 2020:  A pragmatic approach to assessing system change