LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Jürgen CarlsUniversity for PeaceP.O. Box: 138 – 6100San José, Costa Rica

E-mail: jcarls@upeace.orgTel.: (00506) 205 90 75

San José, Costa Rica

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THE LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

The logical framework is a highly effective planning tool for defining inputs, outputs, timetables, success assumptions and performance indicators. It provides a structure for specifying the components of an activity and for relating them to one another. It also helps to identify the place of a project within an overall program or a national system.

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LOGICAL FRAMEWORK MATRIX

Inputs: These are activities undertaken under the program or project, and the means (resources, staff) used to untertake them, with the expectation that implementing theses inputs will lead to the production of the designated outputs.

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LOGICAL FRAMEWORK MATRIX

Outputs: represent those achievements (technology, knowledge) which derive from the inputs and are not dependent on other activities.Purpose: this describes a desired development scenario for which the output is necessary.

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LOGICAL FRAMEWORK MATRIX

Goal: in the broad context of national development, this is a desired achievement for which the development purpose is necessary.

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LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

A tool to help in: Planning Monitoring Evaluation

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LOGICAL FRAMEWORKGTZ incorporated the logical framework approach into ZOPP. The ZOPP-method contains the following planning steps: participation analysis problem analysis objective analysis results to be achieved activities which are necessary to achieve the results indicators to quantify the level of achievement of the results/project aim risks and assumptions involved to achieve the project results action plan, including financial resources for implementing the plan

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ZOPP OBJECTIVES

to define realistic and definite objectives which can be sustained in the long-term

to improve communication and cooperation between project, head office and counterpart organization by means of joint planning and clear documentation/definitions

to clarify the scope of responsibility of project teams

To provide indicators as a basis for monitoring and evaluation

ZOPP was introduced:

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FEATURS OF ZOPP

1. Gradual procedure through a sequence of successive planning steps

2. Permanent visualization and documentation of all planning steps

3. Team approach

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MAIN STEPS OF ZOPP

Participation Analysis Problem Analysis Objectives Analysis Alternatives Analysis

I. Steps of Analysis:

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PROBLEM ANALYSIS

Analyse the existing situation surrounding a given problem condition

Identify the major problems in this context

Define the core problem of a situation Visualize the cause-effect relationships

in a Problem Tree Approach

Is a set of techniques to:

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PROBLEM ANALYSIS: BUS EXAMPLE

Loss of confidence in bus company

People are late

Passengers hurt or killed

Frequent bus accidents

Effects

Core problem

Drivers not careful enough

Bad conditions of vehicles

Bad road conditions

Vehicles too old No ongoing maintenance

Causes

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OBJECTIVES ANALYSIS: BUS EXAMPLE

Customers have a better image of the bus company

Passengers arrive at scheduled time

Less passengers hurt

Frequency of bus accidents considerably reduced

Drivers drive carefully and responsibly

Vehicles kept in good condition

Road conditions improved

Old vehicles are regularly replaced

Vehicles regularly maintained and checked

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PROJECT PLANNING MATRIX

Summary of Objectives/ Activities

Objectively Verifiable Indicators

Means of Verification

Important Assumptions

Overall Goal

Project Purpose

Results / Outputs

Activities

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ASSUMPTIONS

Assumptions can be derived from the objectives

Assumptions will be worded as a positive condition (c.f. Objectives)

Assumptions will be weighted according to importance and probabiltiy

How to word the assumptions:

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Characteristics yes – then logical framework

Summary Important assumption

Goal

Purpose if and

Results if and

Activities if and

then

then

then

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OBJECTIVELY VERIFIABLE INDICATORS (OVI’S)

Objectively verifiable indicators define the performance standard to be reached in order to achieve the objective

They specify what evidence will tell you if an overall goal, project purpose or result/output is reached

in terms of quantity how much? quality how well? time by when? location / area where?

They focus on important characteristics of an objective to be achieved

They provide a basis for monitoring and evaluation.

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MEANS OF VERIFICATIONTell us: Where we get the evidence that the objectives

have been met Where we can find the data necessary to verify the

indicator

Some important questions: Are the means of verification available from normal

sources? (statistics, observation, records) How reliable are the sources? Is special data-gathering required? If so, what will it

cost? Has a new source to be created If we cannot find a means of verification, the

indicator has to be changed!

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COMPLETE MATRIX OF THE LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Summary Objectively verifiable indicators

Verification methods

Important assumption

Goal The agricultural household standards of income and nutrition in Western Africa grow

The income of agricultural households have grown by 5% compared to those from 1996

Country statistics of the World Bank

Purpose The farmers use new maize varieties in Western African in regions that are infested with striga

10 farmer groups used new varieties in 12/1998

Final project report

A system on multiplying with seeds of selected varieities is implemented

Results 1. Corn variety resistant to striga

Identification of 2 hibrid varieties and 2 open pollination varieties in 12/1998

Research reports, publications

Agricultural inputs (tools, seeds) can be found at local markets

Activities

1. To obtian hibrid lines from IITA

2. To implement tests3. Measure harvest4. Analyze results

18 people/months researchers 24 technical people/months 24 million CFA

Documentation of the planning of the research proposal

Research method is appropriate for developing a technology that prevents losses due to striga

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PROJECT DESIGNA logical framework approach project design should indicate the following items, needs and changes intended during the project process:

parties involved objectives of the project results to be achieved activities necessary to achieve the results indicators to measure the level of achievement of the results/project aim risks and assumptions involved to achieve the project results action plan, including a time – table and the financial resources for implementing the plan

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PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Communication; by making use of traditional and modern communication means is the key element during the whole life cycle.

Acting through “chains and clusters”, by addressing both individual and common interests. This approach facilitates the involvement of different actors, which will enable them to better focus their actions.

The concept of “participatory approach” as a principle of management. The success of processes of change depends largely upon the degree to which participants are involved in formulating objectives and executing project measures

Focusing on target and beneficiary groups, so they can position themselves to tap their own efforts and ideas in pursuing their objectives

“Sense of ownership”, an essential condition required for the efficiency and sustainability of development processes, is one of the most important indicators regarding the success of quality of cooperation processes.

The implementation process and execution of activities is guided by the following approaches and working methodologies:

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PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

“Empowerment”, as an approach to foster a distribution of power: means that people and potentially marginalized groups such as women gain and recover the control necessary to shape their own needs.

Negotiation about “common goods” at community level is an important issue in solving problems and conflict situations.

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MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The key issue and concern to monitor and evaluate is to bring about processes of change for planning of project actions, their results and long-term impacts. This process of evaluation and monitoring is subject to the dynamic forces of people involved in the process. It is an ongoing process of negotiation between partners, target groups and funding agencies. The aim is to work on a clear understanding of what is needed and wanted among the partners, while all of them should retain their different interests and view points.But monitoring and evaluation is not an end to itself. The effort involved can only be justified if the outcome is useful for project steering.

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IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Relevance: what are the anticipated effects and impacts for the target groups?

Economic efficiency: what is the cost-benefit ratio for the funds employed?

Significance: does the project generate broad-based sectoral and/or regional impacts?

Sustainability: will the impacts remain after completion of the project?

This is a final evaluation of project outcomes; the short-term effects and long-term impacts and is based on the following quality criteria:

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PHASING OUT:

responsibilities are handed over to target groups

the inputs of the target groups are in line with their capabilities

implementation of future actions seems to be feasible from an economic point of view

Should guarantee from the beginning of the project that: