Development Logic and where the “System” of Land Administration (LA) fits in

Aid projects usually set out their development logic in one of two ways. A logframe shows cause and effect in a straight line. A theory of change can also show feedback loops. Both describe rather than measure, and both rest on many assumptions. Many of those assumptions are implicit, and not minor.

The "system" of land administration sits between outputs and outcomes. Systems show accumulation, interdependence, feedback and thresholds. These affect whether outputs, outcomes and impacts are achieved.

Strategy Dynamics simulation handles interdependence and feedback loops, whether reinforcing or balancing, with numbers. Every assumption is explicit and open to view. So improvement proposals can be tested for effectiveness and sustainability before investing. This adds value to the logframe and the theory of change rather than replacing them.

Annexes give a sample logframe, a sample theory of change and examples of implicit assumptions. They also list inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, impacts and major assumptions for eight land administration operational entities.