Tips for Logframes and Results Frameworks

From my experience, here are some practical tips to keep in mind when working with logframmes, M&E/Results Frameworks.

1. Keep the the wording for each indicator neutral. This means that the indicator should not show direction by having words like 'increase', 'reduced' or by having specific numbers. The aim is to ensure that indicators remain non-directional and as a neutral criteria providing evidence of change, rather than targets to be achieved.

Using direction and a specific number changes the indicator to a target. For example, "increase in the % of children exclusively breastfed until 6 months' is not neutrally formulated as the word "increase" shows direction. This is a target to "increase". Likewise, stating "80% of children children exclusively breastfed until 6 months"is also not neutral as an indicator as the "80%" is once again indicating a direction and is more of a target to be achieved. It is fine to leave the "6 months" as this is only refering to the age of the child.

So, what are examples of a neutral indicator?

Examples of neutral indicators: "% of children exclusively breastfed until 6 months" or "number of children exclusively breastfed until 6 months"

2. Align the indicator and the target. Make sure that all targets match their indicator in units or are they in same format as the indicator. For example, the indicator says “Number of …” but target says “50%”

3. Number all the outcomes, outputs and indicators. This makes it easy to find these elements (especially if the logframe is a long one) and also to see how each element relates to each other. For example, the corresponding indicator for output 1.1, is labelled "1.1.1" and not "2.3" (or worse, has no number!). See example below

Do you have any more tips to share from your experience?