What are some best practices for designing a program logic model?

1 Why evaluate a program?

Program evaluation can serve multiple purposes, such as accountability, learning, improvement, and communication. It can demonstrate the results and impacts of a program to funders, partners, and beneficiaries, and justify the use of resources and the continuation of the program. Additionally, it can generate insights and feedback on what works and what does not, and identify gaps and areas for improvement. Furthermore, it can inform program design, implementation, and management, and support evidence-based decision making and adaptation. Lastly, it can communicate the value and benefits of a program to internal and external audiences, and build trust and credibility.

2 What are some types of program evaluation?

Program evaluation can be classified into different types according to the timing, focus, and scope of the evaluation. For example, a needs assessment is used to assess the needs and priorities of the target population and the context of the program before it is implemented. Formative evaluation is used to monitor and assess the quality and progress of the program during its implementation, and to provide feedback and recommendations for improvement. Summative evaluation is used to measure and analyze the outcomes and impacts of the program after it is completed, and to compare them with the intended goals and objectives. Process evaluation is used to examine and document the activities, inputs, and outputs of the program, and to assess how well the program is delivered and managed. Outcome evaluation is used to evaluate and quantify the changes and effects that the program has produced on the target population and the context, and to attribute them to the program interventions. Lastly, impact evaluation is used to assess and measure the long-term and broader effects of the program on the target population and the context, and to isolate them from other factors and influences.

3 How to design a program logic model?

A program logic model is a visual representation of the theory of change and the logic behind a program. It shows the relationships and linkages between the program inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts, as well as the assumptions and external factors that influence them. This model can help to clarify and communicate the purpose, goals, and objectives of a program, identify and align the resources, strategies, and indicators, plan and implement a program in a logical and coherent way, and evaluate and monitor a program in a systematic and evidence-based way. To design a program logic model, you can define the problem or need that the program aims to address, identify the inputs or resources, describe the activities or interventions, specify the outputs or deliverables, define the outcomes or changes, state the impacts or long-term and broader effects, list the assumptions or hypotheses, and select the indicators or measures that will be used to track and evaluate the program performance.