DESIGNING PROJECTS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD

3.6 OPTIONS AND PATHWAYS (SHORT FOR INTERVENTION OPTIONS AND
ADAPTIVE IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAYS)
RAPTA PROCESS
1. Scoping
4. System
Description
2. Engagement &
Governance
3. Theory of
Change
6. Options &
Pathways
5. System
Assessment
OPTIONS AND PATHWAYS
Step 1 Draw on Theory of Change,
Engagement and Governance
and System Assessment to
develop intervention options
Step 2 Build pathways for
implementation of intervention
options
Step 3 Devise a logical sequence
for intervention options and
pathways
Step 4 Set or review implementation
triggers transforming the system
Step 5 Document and visualise the
pathways
Step 6 Build the understanding gained
from all components into an
implementation plan
Step 7 Action the implementation plan,
actively using the learning, and
adapting the pathways over
time
7. Learning
Figure 14 Steps of the Options and Pathways component
3.6.1 Purpose of Options and Pathways
In this component you identify intervention options,
arrange them into a provisional order for implementation,
estimate their qualitative and quantitative
benefits and costs, and assemble them into an implementation
plan. The plan is co-designed with key
stakeholders who are involved in making decisions
and taking actions. It provides the basis for a funding
application and subsequent implementation.
Co-designing adaptive implementation pathways is a
recent field of research and this summary represents
current understanding, which will improve with experience.
An expanded version of this component with
more examples and explanations is in Appendix C.
3.6.2 Use in phases of the project cycle
In this component you draw on Scoping and
Engagement and Governance processes for goals
and objectives, and from the System Assessment
for constraints and opportunities that influence their
achievement. Here you will work with stakeholders
to develop intervention options and sequenced
pathways for implementing them. Goals, objectives,
interventions and pathways are fed back to update
the Theory of Change, and its cause-effect assumptions
on which the project impacts depend.
In the identification phase of the project cycle, you
will probably not have the time and resources to
focus heavily on this component though it may guide
your thinking. In the project design phase, you can
use the Options and Pathways component to full
effect, to provide the basis for the implementation
phase. During the project implementation phase (and
beyond), adaptive implementation pathways should
be adjusted in response to information from Learning.
RAPTA guidelines for project design 69