Paper short abstract:

We trace instances of change attributed to a family planning programme in two Uganda districts. Analysis reveals standard programme theories of change miss numerous instances of local adaptation and reinvention.

Paper long abstract:

A recent study evaluates a social accountability programme in two Ugandan districts. The programme theory of change follows a standard model for social accountability programmes where the engagement and sensitization of citizens through rights training combined with issue prioritization and action planning and interfacing with duty bearers generates countervailing power and results in improved service delivery for family planning. We trace instances of remedy and redress credited to the programme by retrospectively following cases of actual change and aim to determining the 'active ingredients' which enabled this change to take hold. Through the analysis of documents, in-depth interviews and field notes it is revealed that many instances of change do not cohere with the standard programme theories of change or pre-set outcome measurements. For example, an increase in budget for family planning programmes in one district could be traced to the work of one local man who was personally motivated by principles outside of the rights training provided, held a political role, was well connected, engaged with a number of similar local projects and used advocacy activities not anticipated by the programme. We argue that such instances of local adaptation and reinvention and the inability to contain programme effects necessitates a need for a different engagement with progamme measurement and impact evaluation which recognizes the situated nature of local engagement and the challenge in attributing outcomes or drawing causal links between preset programme activities and effects in the evaluation of social interventions related to sexual and reproductive rights and health.