How to Plan a Results Framework

What should you include in your results framework, and what should not be added?

Here’s a checklist that can help you add the most relevant information while also being participatory and respecting different views.

You must centre your communities’ needs and experiences in this process, so keep them at the heart of your work. Think about your donors and ‘external partners’ as well and how this project can help support other work in the region.

Prioritise

1. When you did your needs assessment, what needs were most emphasised?
2. If you did not do a needs assessment, do one before building a results framework!
3. Which needs have the highest potential for impact and change?
4. What about the lowest?
5. Who will benefit the most?
6. Who is the most vulnerable?
7. How have you considered different peoples’ needs: gender, age, socioeconomic status, class, physical ability, etc.?
8. If you have not done this, consider these different perspectives!

External Factors (including funding)

1. Who else is working there?
2. What are their programme’s strengths?
3. Weaknesses?
4. What are yours?
5. How can you complement their work?
6. When was the last time you scoped this area?
7. What did you uncover, and what do you need to remember for new projects?
8. What opportunities and threats exist?
9. Have you done a SWOT or PESTEL analysis?
10. Do you have the relevant funding for the entire project’s duration?
11. What potential is there for this to continue or for additional phases, areas, activities, etc., to be added?
12. What opportunities do you have to get further funding from external sources?
13. Is the budget justified based on what you propose to do and achieve?

Use the questions in the article here to help you think through its strategic alignment, which can help strengthen the project's relevance. It will also help you conduct the endline assessment.