LFA Logical Framework Approach

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LFALogical Framework Approach

• Goal Oriented Project Planning

Kari Örtengren Project Design AB Sweden
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Project Success How?

• Engagement
• Ownership clearly defined
• Clear division of responsibilities
• Realism!! (purpose)
• Connection Activities Objectives
• Capacity to handle risks
• Flexibility
• Beneficiaries engaged in project planning
• ..LFA is a useful tool to reach success!

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LFA Characteristics

• Finding the roots before setting the objectives
  
• Objectives beneficiary oriented
• Participatory/Ownership!
• Consensus oriented
• Focus on logical links
• Systematic common sense!!!

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Why LFA?

• RELEVANCE, FEASIBILITY SUSTAINABILITY
• Situation and weaknesses are analysed
  correct solutions (activities)
• Mistakes are avoided
• Facilitates implementation
• Identifies indicators of the projects achievements

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The nine steps of an LFA analysis

• 1 Analysis of projects Context
• 2 Analysis of Stakeholders
• 3 Problem Analysis/Situation Analysis
• 4 Objectives Analysis
• 5 Plan of Activities
• 6 Plan of Resources/Inputs
• 7 Indicators/measurements
• 8 Risk Analysis
• 9 Analysis of Assumptions

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Step 1 Projects Context

• Changes/projects are part of a larger context/a
  situation
• Which environment will the project be situated
  in?
• Which factors are of importance for achieving the
  objectives?
• Analysis of Context made through a study and/or
  through making a SWOT analysis

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SWOT analysis

• A tool for auditing /identifying e.g. an
  environment, agency,company etc
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Opportunities
• Threats
• Not LFA , SWOT is a separate method, which may
  be used for the analysis of the projects
  Context

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Step 2 Stakeholder Analysis

• Stakeholders - those who are influenced by and
  exert an influence on the project entity
• Mapping of stakeholders and their respective
  roles
• Who will be influenced, positively or negatively,
  by the project
• Which stakeholders should be involved in planning
  and/or implementing the project

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Step 2 Stakeholder Analysis

• Four main groups of stakeholders
• Beneficiaries
• Implementers
• Financing agents
• Decision makers

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PROBLEMANALYSIS CRUCIAL!

• As with weeds, the roots must be tackled, if the
  weeds are to disappear

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Step 3 Problem Analysis

• Finding the roots of the evil
• Which is the problem to be solved?
• Who owns the problem?
• One focal problem, focus!
• Find the causes and effects to the focal problem
• The causes of the problem shall be tackled
  through activities within the framework of the
  project in order to solve the problem in a
  sustainable way

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Why a Problem Tree?
Objective Tree Overall objectives Project
Purpose Results
Problem Tree Effects Focal problem Causes
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Step 4 Objectives AnalysisThree levels

• 1 Overall Objectives/Development Objectives
  Often Governmental level, long term perspective,
  i e social welfare, economic growth.The positive
  situation of the effects of the focal problem
  identified. Time frame Long term, 5-10 years
  (e.g Living conditions of local people improved
  or Investments into agricultural export crops
  increased )
• 2 Project objectives or Project Purpose Which
  are the objectives that the intervention/project
  should be able to achieve. The positive solution
  to the focal problem, the solved focal problem.
  The reason why the project.is implemented. Time
  frameMedium term 0-3 years (e.g River water
  quality improved or Road network meets traffic
  demands) .
• 3 Outputs/Targets/Results
  The outputs/results
  describe the services to be produced by the
  project. What services do the beneficiary get
  access to? Connected to the causes of the focal
  problem identified. Achieved through the
  activities. Time frame Short term/directly after
  the project activities have been implemented
  (e.g. Direct discharge of wastewater decreased or
  road network expanded) .

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LFA Overall Objectives Step 4

• Long-term social and or economic benefits, to
  which the project will contribute
• Not achieved by the project on its own, several
  projects contribute
• States the positive state for the beneficiaries
  and for the society
• Examples
• - Improved social well fare
• - Economic growth in region X - Food supply
  stabilised

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LFA Project Purpose, Step 4

• The main reason for having a project ! WHY a
  project
• Connection to the focal problem
• Sets out the benefits, which the beneficiaries
  derive from the project
• Implementing agencies should enable for the
  beneficiaries to achieve the benefits by
  delivering the required services/results
• Examples
• - Improved labour productivity for crop X
  achieved..,
• - Health hazards (for certain diseases) of the
  population in area X reduced to a certain
  standard- River water quality improved etc...

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LFA Results Step 4

• Connected to the causes of the focal problem
• Sets out the services which the beneficiaries
  will receive from the implementing agency through
  the project
• Examples
• - Farmers able to apply more efficient maize
  production techniques,
• - Adequate mother and child care provided to the
  people in region X,
• - Improved transport between A and B

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SMART project purpose

• Specific
• Measurable
• Accurate or Approved
• Realistic
• Time bound

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Step 5 Activities

• Tackle the causes of the focal problem
• What will be done under the project to deliver
  the services/results required by the
  beneficiaries
• Usually expressed as an action
• Means to achieve the objectives, not the
  objectives
• Examples
• - Rehabilitate health posts, - Train rural
  health staff,- Re-construct road from A to B

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Step 6 Inputs/Resources

• Experts and personnel (local and foreign, counter
  part, project group)
• Financing (loans, grants, funds) cost sharing?
  Future long term financing?
• Equipment
• Premises

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Step 7 Indicators Measure achievements

• A baseline study might be needed to be able to
  measure the final results?
• The process of setting up indicators shows if the
  objectives are vague
• Indicators should answer the questions
• For whom? What? When? Where? How much? What
  quality?

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Step 8 Risk Analysis

• Analysis of factors which may influence the
  implementation of the project and hence the
  achievement of objectives
• Internal and External risks
• Alternative strategies may be needed?
• Risk management !!!

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Step 9 Analysis of Assumptions

• The project in the perspective of society/
  institutional situation in a country (laws,
  political commitments, financing)
• Assumptions describe situations and conditions,
  which are necessary for project success, but
  which are largely beyond the control of the
  project management
• Assumptions on each level of objective (results,
  project purpose and overall objectives)
• Examples Delivery in time of equipment, at least
  five of the trained personnel stays within the
  company for 5 more years, prevailed stable
  political situation

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Why different steps in LFA?

• Relevance Step 1 4
  Context, Stakeholder-, Problem- and Objectives
  analysis. Logical links between problems and
  solutions, Relevant to support? (in accordance
  with strategies and problems in the
  country/sector?)
• Feasible Step 5 7
  Plan of Activities, Resources/inputs and
  Indicators. Are the resources sufficient to
  achieve the objectives? (Resources Personnel,
  time, funding, equipment)
• Sustainable Step 8 9
  Risk analysis and Assumptions. If the
  project is sustainable, will the effects of the
  project remain without continuos external
  assistance outside?

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Internet information on LFA

• www.google.com/logical framework approach
• http//www.ausaid.gov.au/ausguide/ausguidelines/1.
  html
• http//lgausa.com/logframe_approach.htm
• http//www.cgiar.org/isnar/gender/hambly.htm
• http//www.pcm-group.com/services_helpdesk_faq.jsp
  
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/evaluation/met
  hods/PCM_Manual_EN-march2001.pdf

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LFA matrix/Log Frame
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LFA summary

• Relevant, Feasible and Sustainable
  projects/programs - success!
• Participation ownership!
• Joint approach to project
• Make problem analysis with accuracy /time to
  correctly analyze causes effects
• Connection problems and objectives
• Add analysis such as cost effectiveness and
  gender, study on environmental aspects and make a
  clear division of responsibilities
• LFA during all phases of the project

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How the LFA method works depends on its users

• LFA is no better and no worse than its users

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Why GOPP (LFA) workshop ?

• Relevant, feasible and sustainable projects.
• To overcome major errors in planning
  structure!
• All key stakeholders participation
  efficiency, correct situation analysis correct
  solutions (activities)
• Shared understanding of the situation and of
  different needs and interest - transparency !
• Ownership and responsibility

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LFA STEPS in a workshop

• STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS
• PROBLEM ANALYSIS
• OBJECTIVES ANALYSIS
• PLAN of ACTIVITIES (overall brainstorming
  ideas)
• RISK ANALYSIS
• ASSUMPTIONS LOG FRAME/MATRIX
• LFA/GOPP WORKSHOP answers WHAT TO DO, not HOW.
  The detailed planning is made later by the
  project group