Donor Funded Project Guidelines and Selection of Result Statements

Nudrat Mufti

Logical Framework Matrix, Key Terms:

Inputs Activities

Results: Impact,

Outcome, Outputs

Indicators Assumptions and Risks

REMEMBER-IMPACT IS BLACK

OUTPUT IS GREEN

OUTCOME IS

ORANGE

Sélection of ObjectivesI. As we cannot solve all of the problems we need to prioritize items

from objectives tree.II. Define potential solutionsIII. Select the most appropriate solution

What will the organisation not do? What will other organisation tackle or are already tackling? Existing capacities and opportunities: what can the affected people do

themselves? Constraints and risks; how vulnerable is the intervention to external

factors?

What will the organisation do? Which objectives are compatible with the USAID fundamental principles,

mandate and policies? Which combination of objectives does our organisation and team have the

capacity to effectively address?• SWOT(Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats)

Analysis to décide

Project Objectives Analysis

• Convert problem statements into objective statements • Then into an objective tree. Problem tree shows cause-effect

relationships• The objective tree shows means-end relationships. • The means-end relationships show the means by which the

project can achieve the desired ends or future desirable conditions.

Project Activities

• After defining the objectives, and specifying how they will be measured objectively verifiable indicators(OVIs)and where and how that information will be found measurable organizational value (MOVs) we get to the detailed planning phase.

• We now determine what activities are required to achieve each objective.

• The concrete interventions or tasks that project personnel undertake to transform inputs into outputs.

ActivitiesOutput

• Short

• Within control Individual group

Outcome• Medium

• Effect of Several Output Results

• Institution Organization Community

Impact• Long

• Result of other Variables

• Country Region Society

Activities

Activities

Results chain

Results Chain (Example)

Inputs OutputResults

ImpactResultActivities Outcome

Results

Train teachers Improved classroompractices

Increased capacity ofteachers

Improved educationat provincial level

Levels of Results

Output Results (short-term)

Outcome Results (medium-term)

Impact Results (longer-term)

Difference Between Activities & Output Results

• Activities are actions to be undertaken within the scope of the project.

• Completed activities are not output results.

• Output results are the short-term effects of completed activities.

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Outputs

Outcome

Inputs

Activities

Increased access to quality education services

Better educated population

Improved curricula and materials, teachingskills, and systems for school management

Materials development, teacher training, and management capacity building

Impact

Money, facilities, trainers, materials

Results ChainHow?

Characteristics of Effective Results

Specific (in relation to beneficiaries, gender, location)

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Time bound

SMART

General Guideline and Selection of Results Statements

Results Normally Expressed In Terms

Increased

Decreased

Improved

Enhanced

Strengthened

General Guideline for Development and Selection of Output Statements

Should be achieved by the mid point of a project

Commonly expressed in terms of individuals/groups

Immediate, visible, concrete developmental change that is the tangible consequence of project inputs/activities

For example :

• MIS system designed and functioning

• Improved planning skills of NGO partners

• Increased collaboration between NGO partners and local government officials (male /female )

Output Results

General Guideline For Development And Selection Of Outcome Statements

The developmental change in the beneficiaries of the project

Commonly expressed in terms of community, institution, organization

Should be achieved by the end of a project

General Guideline for Development and Selection of Impact Result Statements

The higher level, long-term effects that are usually not measurable until after a project ends

Linked to the project goal

Expressed in terms of region, country, province

Projects are not responsible for measuring results at the impact level

Measuring Results Through Indicators

• Indicators must be identified to measure output and outcome results.• An indicator is a pointer, measurement,

a number, a fact, an opinion, or a perception that helps you to measure the progress towards achieving results.• Indicators are to be used during

implementation to monitor progress toward the achievement of expected results

Types of Indicators

Quantitative indicators:• Measures of quantity• Examples: # of, % of, frequency of ….

Qualitative indicators:• Involve people’s perceptions about a

subject• Examples: quality of, extent of, degree of…

General Guideline for Indicator Development

and Selection

• Indicators measure whether results have been achieved• Indicators denote change over time• Indicators illustrate the cause and effect

relationships between inputs and results• Start an indicator with

• Number of ….• % age of the ratio of……• Quality of…• Perceptions of…

Brainstorm possible indicators Does the indicator really measure the result?

Can we get reliable data for this indicator, now and in the future?

Does this indicator permit us to measure the result over time?

Does it provide information upon which decisions can be based?

Can we afford to use this indicator?

Does this indicator make it easy to communicate the status of the result?

Is this indicator gender-sensitive?

Discard indicator or keep in reserve

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

Confirmed

Valid

Reliable

Sensitive to change

Useful

Affordable

Simple

Gender-sensitive

General Guideline for Indicator Development and Selection

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Examples of Indicators

Result: Strengthened human rights capacity of regional and local government councilors (male /female ) in X districts.

Indicators:• Number of local government councilors (male /female ) trained in human

rights

• Number of human rights trainings held

• Number and type of cases attended to by trained local government councilors

• Degree of human rights commitment by trained councilors (male/female )

• Number of human rights cases occurring in the target area

USAID’s criteria for assessing performance indicators include:

• Direct (valid) -- closely represents the result it is intended to measure.

• Objective -- unambiguous about what is being measured; has a precise operational definition that ensures comparability over time.

• Practical -- data can be collected on a timely basis and at reasonable cost.

• Adequate -- only the minimum number of indicators necessary to ensure that key dimensions of a result are sufficiently captured.

• Reliable -- data are of sufficient quality for confident decision-making.

• Disaggregated where possible -- by characteristics such as sex, age, economic status, and location,