# toc-builder

Builds a Theory of Change with preconditions, testable assumptions and an evidence plan. Useful for programme design and funder submissions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 645 installs · ★ 3
- Author: gasserane
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/gasserane/personal-skills/tree/HEAD/org/toc-builder/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/toc-builder

## What it does

The skill walks the agent through a fixed order of work. It starts from the long-term outcome and moves backwards, never forward from activities. Preconditions land at short, medium and long horizons, and each one is a change state rather than an activity.

Every link between preconditions gets three things: a causal claim, an assumption outside the programme's control, and an evidence status — tested, plausible or untested. A link with no named mechanism is flagged as untested instead of being filled in with something that sounds reasonable. A feminist political economy pass follows: whose interests the change serves, whose it threatens, which power relations have to shift, and who was not consulted. Answers should name actual actors in the context, not broad categories. When that information is missing, the node is flagged and a rapid power mapping is added as a month-one milestone.

The output opens with the main pathway in one sentence plus the riskiest assumption, then continues with vision, context, a `mermaid` flowchart of the pathway, preconditions by horizon, a table of links and assumptions, the contribution question and the evidence plan. Logframes, results frameworks and indicator lists are out of scope — they come after the ToC.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add gasserane/personal-skills --skill toc-builder -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/toc-builder/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/toc-builder/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add gasserane/personal-skills --skill toc-builder -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/toc-builder/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add gasserane/personal-skills --skill toc-builder -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/toc-builder/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install gasserane/personal-skills toc-builder
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/toc-builder/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add gasserane/personal-skills --skill toc-builder -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/gasserane/personal-skills --path org/toc-builder
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/toc-builder/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add gasserane/personal-skills --skill toc-builder -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/gasserane/personal-skills/tree/HEAD/org/toc-builder/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- state a long-term outcome specific enough to be falsified
- lay out preconditions across three time horizons
- separate tested assumptions from untested ones and flag the gaps
- frame the evaluation as a contribution question instead of claiming attribution
- check whose interests and voices the programme leaves out

## Example prompts
- Build a Theory of Change for our SRHR programme: long-term outcome, population, what we can deliver, 12-month, 3-year and 5-year horizons
- Revise our Theory of Change and show which assumptions are still untested
- Run a pathway analysis and add the feminist political economy lens: who holds power and who can block the change

## Similar
- [toc-generator](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/toc-generator.md) — skill · 1000 installs
- [cnki-journal-toc](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cnki-journal-toc.md) — skill · 330 installs
- [oss-governance](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/oss-governance.md) — skill · 10500 installs
- [tech-talk-outline](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tech-talk-outline.md) — skill · 10300 installs
- [novel-architect](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/novel-architect.md) — skill · 2200 installs
- [prd-writer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/prd-writer.md) — skill · 1200 installs

From the same set: [gasserane/personal-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/gasserane/personal-skills.md) — 22 cards

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md