Abstract
The world’s estimated 600 million dogs face a range of welfare issues which vary according to local context and locally accepted norms regarding attitudes towards dogs. Dogs Trust Worldwide, an international Non-Governmental Organisation which works to improve canine welfare, is applying a Theory of Change framework to define and unpick key challenges faced when collaborating with local partners to achieve its mission. We describe the Theory of Change approach and the importance of Human Behaviour Change within this. We identify questions which need to be addressed as part of articulating our ways of working with partner organisations and acknowledge issues around generating evidence to measure the impact our work has on the ultimate beneficiaries.
Highlights
Reliable figures for the worldwide dog population are difficult to source
The ToC must clarify components over which the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has control, those for which it relies on behaviour of and contributions from third parties and those which are driven by external factors such as social, cultural and environmental constraints
They “work” as part of a causal package in combination with other “helping factors” such as stakeholder behaviour, related programmes and policies, institutional capacities, cultural factors or socio-economic trends.”. They noted that “... when assessing impact of an intervention it’s important to ask “Did the intervention make a difference?” which allows space for combinations of causes rather than “Did the intervention work?” which implies an intervention is a cause acting on its own.”. This distinction between recognising contribution rather than assuming attribution means that caution may be advised in the use of Results Based Management (RBM)-style frameworks for planning and monitoring
Summary
Reliable figures for the worldwide dog population are difficult to source. Available estimates include the World Society for Protection of Animals’ figure of combined stray and owned animals of 600 million [1]. Based on studies published by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working worldwide with other species [2], it may be assumed that welfare issues affecting dogs vary around the world; it could be proposed that they are influenced by ownership patterns, availability and uptake of canine healthcare and welfare facilities and locally accepted norms regarding attitudes towards dogs. These theories need to be tested empirically. The complexity and interconnectedness of these areas, plus working at a distance through multiple, diverse partners (ranging from small, largely volunteer run organisations to large non-profits working in more than one country) represent some of the challenges faced
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