This tab presents three examples of what a completed logical framework for a project might look like, drawing from the examples in earlier tabs that set out sample goals, purposes, outputs, and activities. It also links the framework to the process of monitoring and evaluation that should be built into a project from the outset.
Examples of completed logical frameworks
The examples are as follows:
- Example 1. A center-based project of integrated child care and education directed explicitly toward improving the development of young children, aged two to six.
- Example 2. A parental education project also aimed at improving the development of young children but focusing on children from birth to age three.
- Example 3. A home day care project (with a child care focus) embedded in a women's program. The larger program has as its goal improving the welfare of women and their families. Other components of the program might include training and credit support for productive projects run by groups of women.
Examples of free-standing
early childhood development programs
The logical frameworks for examples 1 and 2 are presented together because both are explicitly ECCD programs, representing two major, complementary ECCD strategies (tables 6.1 and 6.2). The two are aimed at the same goal but have different purposes. They could be planned separately or as part of one program with two strands of action.
Following the Logframe, the logic for example 1 is as follows:
1. If the activities (creating demand, selecting supervisors and other staff and providing them both initial and ongoing training, creating and equipping centers, developing materials, and developing administrative and monitoring systems) are carried out well, and assuming favorable political and economic conditions and the availability of resources (monetary, human, and technological), then demand will be created, centers will be available, the caregivers, supervisors, and directors needed for the project will have been trained, materials will be available, and monitoring and administrative systems will be in place.
Thus the program will have created the potential for the operation of quality centers. By creating demand, the program can be expected to be able to reach the number of children desired. By providing training, the program can be expected to produce a change in the knowledge, skills, and motivation of the staff. By constructing or upgrading centers and developing materials, the program can be expected to produce adequate, equipped spaces in which to operate. And by developing an administrative system and a management information system (MIS), the program can be expected to create the potential for keeping track of and accounting for the operation of the centers.
| Table 6.1 Logical framework for a free-standing, center-based ECCD program |
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GOAL
(general objective) Improve the development of young children, aged 2-6, in urban marginal areas |
INDICATOR
Raise the developmental status of x children by x% over 5 years, as indicated by measures of health status, nutritional status, and psychosocial development |
VERIFICATION
Health: Health carnet for each child Nutrition: Growth monitoring records in center Psychosocial: Performance on standardized tests |
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PURPOSE
(specific objective) Provide children with quality care and education through successful operation of child care centers< |
INDICATOR
X centers functioning, providing quality care and education to x children (from marginal areas) |
VERIFICATION
From MIS: centers, adult-child ratios, and the like From annual evaluation: physical facilities, application of curriculum, agent-child interaction, and so on |
ASSUMPTIONS
Home conditions provide at least minimum reinforcement |
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OUTPUTS
Demand created Trained caregivers, supervisors, and directors Centers in place Materials developed Administrative system in place MIS in place |
INDICATORS X children from marginal backgrounds enrolled X caregivers trained X centers built or upgraded X materials created and distributed A functioning MIS |
VERIFICATION Data from MIS on trainees, centers, and materials distributed Evaluations of trainees: after initial training and during course of continuous training |
ASSUMPTIONS Low turnover of caregivers and other staff Ability to reach the desired population |
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ACTIVITIES Create demand Select caregivers and supervisors and give initial training Build or upgrade centers Develop materials Develop administrative system Provide continuous training and supervision Develop monitoring and evaluation system |
RESOURCES Budget Technology Human resources |
VERIFICATION Plan of action, budgets, and accounting records Studies showing that the chosen model and curriculum work Evaluations to see that the activities were not only carried out but done well Curriculum vitae of trainers and other staff |
ASSUMPTIONS Political will Reasonable economic and political stability |
2. If the planned outcomes (trained people, available and equipped centers, materials, demand) are achieved, and assuming conditions that allow low turnover of staff and an ability to reach the desired population, then quality care and education will be provided to x children over x years in x centers.
An actual change in organization and behavior will be evident in the extension of a system of quality care and development, realizing the potential for such change.
3. If centers are providing quality care and education to children in marginal areas, and assuming that home conditions (physical, economic, social, and emotional) provide minimum reinforcement, then the health, nutritional, and psychosocial status of children will improve.
The organizational and behavioral changes translate into a social impact.
| Table 6.2 Logical framework for a home visiting program of parental education |
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GOAL (general objective) Improve the development of young children, from birth to age 3, in urban marginal areas |
INDICATOR
Raise the developmental status of x children by x% over 5 years, as indicated by measures of health status, nutritional status, and psychosocial development |
VERIFICATION
Health: Health carnet for each child Nutrition: Growth monitoring records in center Psychosocial: Performance on standardized tests |
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PURPOSE (specific objective)
Provide children with quality care and education through improved child rearing practices and changes in the home environment |
INDICATOR
Changes in practices of x% of participating parents Changes in the home environment |
VERIFICATION
Periodic observations of a sample of parents and homes: interaction with children, questionnaires, supervisory reports |
ASSUMPTIONS
Trained parents or other caregivers continue to provide care Continuity in economic and family conditions |
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OUTPUTS
Participants enrolled Trained home visitors, supervisors, and directors Materials developed Home visits Parental training carried out Administrative system in place MIS in place |
INDICATORS
X low-income participants enrolled X caregivers trained Parental guides developed and distributed to x families Home visits made Functioning MIS and administrative system |
VERIFICATION
Data from MIS on trainees, parents, and materials Evaluations of trainee knowledge and skills after initial training and during course of continuous training; observation of interaction between home visitor and parents Questionnaires tapping parental knowledge and attitudes |
ASSUMPTIONS
Low turnover of home visitors and other staff Ability to reach the desired population |
|
ACTIVITIES
Enroll parents Select and train home visitors and other staff Develop materials Develop administrative system Provide continuous training and supervision Carry out home visits Develop monitoring and evaluation system |
RESOURCES
Budget Technology Human resources |
VERIFICATION
Plan of action, budgets, and accounting records Studies showing that the chosen model and curriculum work Evaluations to see that the activities were not only carried out but done well Curriculum vitae |
ASSUMPTIONS
Political will Reasonable economic and political stability |
The logic for example 2, in brief, is as follows:
1. If the activities (promotion, training, and so on) are carried out well, and assuming favorable political and economic conditions and the availability of resources (monetary, human, and technological), then parents will be enrolled, home visitors and other staff will be trained, materials will be available, home visits will have been made, and an administrative system and MIS will be functioning.
2. If the outputs are obtained, and assuming low turnover of home visitors and other staff, then changes will occur in parental practices and in the home environment with which the child interacts.
3. If parental behavior and the home environment improve, and assuming that the trained caregivers continue to provide care and that the family structure is maintained or improves, then the health, nutritional, and psychosocial status of children will improve.
Example of an early childhood development program embedded in another project
Here the Logical Framework is applied to look at the organization and evaluation of an ECCD program embedded in a women in development (WID) project. The project goal is the broader WID goal. The purpose is one of several that the project may have and is linked to the child care activity. The outcomes and activities begin to look very much like those in examples 1 and 2 (table 6.3).
| Table 6.3 Logical framework for a child care program embedded in a women in development project |
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GOAL
(general objective) Improve the economic and social welfare of women and their families |
INDICATORS
Improvements in family income in x% of participating families Improvements in measures of health status, nutritional status, and educational participation |
VERIFICATION
Household surveys of the economic, social, and health condition of all family members |
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PURPOSE
(specific objective) Provide women with opportunities to earn and learn while their children are cared for in home day care centers |
INDICATORS
X day care homes functioning, providing accessible, affordable care of adequate quality during working hours and thus allowing shifts in women's employment and education activities |
VERIFICATION
From surveys: changes in women's employment and education and their evaluations of the care provided Evaluations of quality of care provided based on observation |
ASSUMPTIONS
Other family members maintain or improve their employment and earnings Economic conditions remain stable or improve |
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OUTPUTS
Trained caregivers, supervisors, and directors Day care homes upgraded and operating Materials developed Administrative system in place MIS in place |
INDICATORS
X caregivers trained X homes upgraded and operating X materials created and distributed A functioning MIS |
VERIFICATION
Data from MIS on trainees, homes, and materials Evaluations of trainees after initial training and during course of continuous training |
ASSUMPTIONS
Family conditions allow home day care mothers to carry through on their agreements to provide care |
|
ACTIVITIES
Select caregivers and supervisors and provide initial training Upgrade homes Develop materials Develop administrative system Deliver home day care Provide continuous training and supervision Develop monitoring and evaluation system |
RESOURCES
Budget Technology Human resources |
VERIFICATION
Plan of action, budgets, and accounting records Studies showing that the chosen model and curriculum work Evaluations to see that the activities were not only carried out but done well Survey of demand |
ASSUMPTIONS
Political will Reasonable economic and political stability A need for day care outside the home that is not covered by other arrangements |
The logic for example 3 is as follows:
1. If the activities are carried out, and assuming that there is unmet demand for adequate day care and the political will to meet that demand, then a system of home day care will be set up with trained caregivers, upgraded homes, materials, and a functioning administrative system and MIS.
2. If the outputs are achieved, and assuming that family conditions for the home day care workers allow them to meet their obligations to the program, then children will receive adequate care in centers that are accessible and affordable and with schedules corresponding to working hours, allowing women to improve their employment and education options.
3. If women are able to change their employment because their children are being cared for in adequate day care homes, and assuming that the circumstances of other family members do not change for the worse, then improvements will be seen in the economic and social welfare of women and their families.
