Designing and implementing inclusive, gender-responsive programmes with a Theory of Change

Start with the problem, not the solution

Despite increasing efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment, programmes often fail to achieve meaningful and sustainable change. A key reason is that interventions often start from predefined activities (such as training, financial products, or networking initiatives) without clearly diagnosing the underlying problems and gender-specific barriers they aim to address.

This guide provides a structured approach to move from solution-driven to problem-driven design. 

A practical framework for planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions 

The Gender Theory of Change aims at helping practitioners define gender-related problems, identify the barriers that sustain them, and select interventions
aligned with the type of change sought. By linking gender problems, barriers, actions, and results, this guide offers a practical framework to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems so that women-owned/led businesses can participate and compete on fairer terms.

A gender-responsive Theory of Change (ToC) is therefore not only a planning or an evaluation tool, but a discipline for making better design decisions in complex systems. 

Look beyond women: understand the ecosystem

While a gender ToC can be applied across different areas of development, this guide uses women’s entrepreneurship as its primary entry point because it was developed within the framework of the IYBA-SEED programme, which focuses on strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems. As a result, the guide provides concrete examples related to financial institutions, business support organisations, and ecosystem actors. However, it also offers a framework that can be adapted to other sectors.