The overall PLA theory of change is to empower communities through awareness raising on issues affecting vulnerable workers; provide free legal aid to enable access to justice; legal advocacy; policy engagement and social development sector budget monitoring, capacity development; and bridging the gap to access services including education, health, legal services among vulnerable target groups. 

Thematic Area Specific Theories of Change

  1. Under Human Rights and Accountability; PLA uses multimedia approaches to create awareness about the rights of vulnerable and marginalized workers and empower communities to support them. In order to support Vulnerable Marginalised Workers (VMWs) access to justice, legal aid services through direct service delivery; referral mechanisms; and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The above interventions are envisaged to lead to responsive communities and strengthened systems and structures that support vulnerable and marginalized workers enjoy their rights.
  2. Through the Social Protection Thematic Area, PLA supports VMWs through the provision of livelihood support, skills development for children in vocational institutions; and improving access to and retention in formal education. In order to mitigate the effects of HIV&AIDS, livelihood support isprovided to PLA beneficiaries. Youth will be supported through skills development programmes to enable them to engage in gainful employment. 
  3. Research and Knowledge Development Thematic Area is responsible for information generation, packaging and dissemination to PLA internal and external stakeholder. It further strengthens the capacities of PLA and its partners in research and M&E to facilitate evidence-based programming and advocacy. This  contributes towards empowered vulnerable communities able to demand and realize their rights.
  4. The Institutional Strengthening and Development Thematic Area contributes to the PLA goal through consolidating existing new strategic partnerships and creating new ones in order to implement its programmes. It further builds the capacity of implementing partners; its staff and the Board; and regularly carry out organizational capacity assessments to inform systems and structural reviews.