ToC – Shewi

Theory of Change

Theory of Change (ToC) Model for the Sustainable Health for Women Initiative (SHeWI) using the Results Chain (Logic Model), with gender-transformative and climate resilience lenses and fully integrated.

Problem Statement

In North Central Nigeria, women are predominantly smallholder farmers who rely on agriculture for income used to care for their families. However, climate change is disrupting farming activities, which negatively affects income, food security, nutrition, and health outcomes, especially for women and girls. Existing health systems and livelihood programs are not adequately gender-responsive or climate-adaptive

Inputs

Human Resource – Trained program staff, volunteers, GBV focal points, trainers, field officers
Capacity Building – Training materials, expert facilitators, climate-smart agriculture toolkits, GBV and health manuals
Partnership- Collaboration with Ministries (Health, Women Affairs, Agriculture), local NGOs, health facilities traditional & religious leaders
Financial Resources- Donor Funding, operational budget, stipends for volunteers.
Infrastructure – Office space, ICT tools, mobile health vans (if applicable), safe spaces
Materials and Supplies – IEC materials, farming inputs, mobile health kits, data collection tools, Climate-smart agriculture tools and training kits, Health, nutrition, and GBV response manuals and IEC materials
Monitoring and evaluation tools
Safe spaces and referral linkages for GBV survivors

Activities

Capacity building workshops for community climate-health advocates (gender, health, GBV, and climate change)
Establishment of peer learning groups for women farmers.
Delivery of mobile health education and screening services in hard-to-reach communities.
Training on climate-smart agriculture and nutrition-sensitive farming
Advocacy campaigns to influence gender-responsive policy and funding (on gender, health, and climate resilience)
Establish community-based early warning and response systems for climate-related health risks
Train women in sustainable agriculture and livelihood diversification

Outputs

Community volunteers (women, men, youth) trained in climate-health education and advocacy.
Health Nutrition outreach activities conducted in targeted communities.
Women farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture and business skills.
Dialogue sessions and advocacy meetings held with policymakers and traditional leaders. (Traditional and community leaders sensitized on gender and climate-health issues)
IEC materials developed on gender, climate, and health linkages. (Advocacy materials developed and disseminated)
Functional GBV referral

4. Short-Term Outcomes (0–12 Months)

Health & Nutrition

Increased number of women and girls accessing basic health and nutrition information and services
Improved knowledge of postpartum care, menstrual hygiene, and family planning

Climate Resilience & Livelihoods

Women farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture and adopting sustainable practices
Initial increase in household food availability and income diversity

Gender Equality & GBV Prevention

Increased awareness of GBV, rights, and reporting mechanisms in communities
Establishment of functional GBV referral pathways and safe spaces

Community Capacity

Community volunteers and youth climate-health advocates deployed and active
Community members participating in sensitization campaigns and outreach

Advocacy & Inclusion

Community leaders and stakeholders engaged in policy dialogues
Local policy actors sensitized on gender-climate-health intersections

Intermediate Outcomes (1–2 Years)

Women and youth trained as health and climate advocates are actively engaged in their communities.
Women adopt sustainable agricultural practices and diversify their income sources.
Communities report improved access to gender-responsive health information and services.
Policymakers adopt or support gender-sensitive climate and health policies.

Long-Term Outcomes (2–5 Years, impact pathway)

Improved health outcomes for women and girls, including maternal, reproductive, and mental health.
Increased economic resilience through sustainable, climate-smart livelihoods.
Stronger community capacity to respond to climate-related health challenges.
Greater inclusion of women’s voices in policy and decision-making related to climate and health.

The ultimate impact goal

Women and girls in North Central Nigeria are healthy, empowered, and economically resilient, leading to stronger, climate-adapted communities.

8. Cross Cutting Themes

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion

All interventions are gender-transformative and inclusive of marginalized groups (e.g., young women, widows, persons with disabilities).

Climate Resilience

Climate Resilience

Every action is designed to enhance adaptation to and mitigation of climate-related health and livelihood risks.

GBV Prevention & Response

GBV Prevention & Response

Embedded within health and empowerment pillars to ensure safety, voice, and support for women and girls.

Assumptions

Communities are willing to engage in behavior change for improved health and livelihoods.
There is political will to support gender-responsive and climate-adaptive policies.
Climate impacts remain within a manageable range to allow adaptation strategies to be effective.
Women are supported by community structures (including men and leaders) to take on leadership roles.

Indicators of Success

Health

% increase in women accessing health services in target LGAs
of mobile health outreaches or health talks held

Climate & Livelihoods

of women trained in climate-resilient farming techniques
% of women adopting new agricultural practices

Gender/GBV

of GBV cases reported and referred through SHWI-supported mechanisms
% increase in community knowledge on GBV prevention and response

Community Engagement

of active trained community health/climate advocates
of community sensitization sessions held

Advocacy

of policy briefs submitted or dialogues held with government actors
of community-based inputs reflected in local/state climate-health policy drafts

Enablers

Collaboration with health and agricultural extension workers.
Support from local government and community gatekeepers.
Funding and partnerships with climate-health actors and donor agencies.

Gender-Responsive Health Resilience

Gender-Responsive Health Resilience should go beyond clinical services to encompass the broader social and structural factors affecting women’s well-being and GBV is a core part of that. Here’s how to frame it:

Updated Definition of Gender-Responsive Health Resilience (for your ToC):

Enhance the resilience of women and girls by addressing gender-specific health challenges made worse by climate change including maternal and reproductive health, mental health, and the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV).

In Practical Terms, This Includes:

Training health workers and advocates to recognize and respond to GBV.
Strengthening referral pathways for survivors of violence.
Creating safe spaces and support networks for women and girls.
Raising community awareness to challenge harmful gender norms and reduce tolerance of violence.

Where It Appears in the Theory of Change Structure:

TOC ELEMENTS	GBV INCLUSION
Activities	GBV awareness, survivor referral training, community sensitization
Outputs	Trained responders, community outreach conducted, GBV reporting channels established
Immediate Outcomes	Increased reporting, safer environments for women and girls
Long-term Outcomes	Reduction in GBV, enhanced protection and empowerment
Impacts	Healthy, empowered, safe, and climate-resilient women and communities

Final Note

By placing GBV under Gender-Responsive Health Resilience, you’re maintaining a streamlined and integrated ToC, while ensuring this critical issue gets the attention and intervention it deserves.