Theory of Change for Exploring the Potential Role of Rural Women’s Social Inclusion for Temporary Economic Recovery after COVID-19: Evidence from Awni Village in Egypt

Abstract

Theory of change approach is a comprehensive illustration of how activities, undertaken by an intervention, are intended to function and empirically evaluate whether and how they achieve their ultimate intended outcomes. Theory of Change (ToC) has, to date, been widely used as an evaluation tool for Comprehensive Community Initiatives, and this study aims at exploring its application to research on female empowerment-based Comprehensive Community initiatives. The study presents a theory of change, based on a model proposed by the authors, to evaluate the role of rural women's social inclusion as one of the key factors contributing to the success of a single Comprehensive Community initiative in Egypt. The lessons learned from this success story can be put forward as a possible solution to curb the economic challenges caused by COVID-19. A case study was conducted in a small village in Egypt through the use of observation, interviews, and secondary data. Findings indicated four key interventions facilitated the inclusion of rural women, contributed to the success of the development plan, and helped the village overcome the challenges caused by COVID-19. Those interventions being; over-coming gender stereotyping, focusing on up-skilling, re-skilling; through mass on-the-job training programs, and selfsufficiency.

Does Tanzania Succeed in Sectoral Cooperation among Cooperatives in the Post- Covid -19 Recovery?

“…Hence, cooperatives may choose the intervention level of their choice to resolve economic disruption and improve cooperation for development. Using the theory of change, Abbadi et al, (2021) concluded that mass on-the-job training programs were a key intervention for community initiatives to curb economic challenges caused by COVID-19. Kettunen, (2021) incorporated the theory of change as systematic thinking to develop programs that promote women economically and socially.…”