Logical Framework (Logframe): From Theory to Action Plan

Transform your Theory of Change into a structured, funder-ready planning framework with clear objectives, measurable indicators, and realistic assumptions.

⏱️ Duration: 7 minutes | 📥 Downloads: 3 templates | 🎯 Outcome: Complete Logframe ready for proposal writing

🎯 What You’ll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

✅ Structure your project logic in the standard logframe format
✅ Write SMART objectives at goal, outcome, and output levels
✅ Select appropriate indicators that demonstrate progress and impact
✅ Identify realistic assumptions and potential risks
✅ Create funder-ready documentation that meets proposal requirements

🌟 Why Logical Frameworks Matter

The Challenge with Loose Planning

  • Unclear accountability → Hard to demonstrate results
  • Confused stakeholders → Different people have different expectations
  • Weak proposals → Funders can’t assess feasibility and impact
  • Poor monitoring → No systematic way to track progress

What Logframes Provide

  • Structured clarity that everyone can understand
  • Measurable commitments that demonstrate accountability
  • Risk management through explicit assumption testing
  • Communication tool that works across cultures and organizations
  • Monitoring framework built into your project design

📊 Understanding the Logframe Structure

The Four-Level Hierarchy 

GOAL (Impact)        ←→  Impact Indicators    ←→  Sources of Verification
↑
OUTCOMES (Purpose)   ←→  Outcome Indicators   ←→  Sources of Verification
↑
OUTPUTS (Results)    ←→  Output Indicators    ←→  Sources of Verification
↑
ACTIVITIES (Actions) ←→  Input Indicators     ←→  Sources of Verification

                     ASSUMPTIONS (External Factors Needed for Success)

The Four Columns Explained

Column 1: Intervention Logic

  • Goal: Long-term impact your project contributes to
  • Outcomes: Changes that your project will directly achieve
  • Outputs: Products/services your project will deliver
  • Activities: Tasks your project will implement

Column 2: Indicators

  • Specific, measurable evidence of achievement
  • Quantitative and qualitative measures
  • SMART targets with baselines and timeframes

Column 3: Sources of Verification

  • Where you’ll find evidence for each indicator
  • Who will provide the data
  • How data will be collected and when

Column 4: Assumptions

  • External factors beyond your control
  • Conditions that must hold for your logic to work
  • Risks that could derail your project

🎯 Writing Strong Objectives

GOAL Level (Impact)

Characteristics:

  • Addresses the broader problem from your Problem Tree
  • Long-term (5-10 years)
  • Your project contributes but doesn’t single-handedly achieve
  • Often shared with other organizations

Good Goal Examples:

  • “Improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers in Region X”
  • “Reduced maternal mortality in underserved communities”
  • “Enhanced educational outcomes for marginalized youth”

Poor Goal Examples:

  • “Train 500 farmers” (This is an output, not impact)
  • “Reduce poverty” (Too broad, not specific enough)
  • “Our organization becomes well-known” (About you, not beneficiaries)

OUTCOME Level (Purpose)

Characteristics:

  • Direct changes your project will achieve
  • Medium-term (1-3 years)
  • Changes in knowledge, behavior, conditions, or policies
  • Measurable and attributable to your intervention

Good Outcome Examples:

  • “Smallholder farmers adopt climate-resilient farming practices”
  • “Community health workers provide quality maternal care services”
  • “Youth develop job-relevant skills and find employment”

OUTPUT Level (Results)

Characteristics:

  • Direct products of your activities
  • Short-term (3-12 months)
  • Completely under your control
  • Quantifiable deliverables

Good Output Examples:

  • “Farmers trained in climate-resilient techniques”
  • “Community health workers certified in maternal care”
  • “Youth complete vocational training programs”

📏 Selecting Quality Indicators

Types of Indicators

Quantitative Indicators:

  • Numbers, percentages, ratios
  • Easy to measure and compare
  • Clear targets and thresholds

Examples:

  • “80% of trained farmers adopt at least 3 new techniques”
  • “Maternal mortality rate decreases by 25%”
  • “70% of program graduates find employment within 6 months”

Qualitative Indicators:

  • Changes in quality, perception, or satisfaction
  • Descriptive evidence of change
  • Often captured through stories and case studies

Examples:

  • “Farmers report increased confidence in trying new methods”
  • “Community members express satisfaction with health services”
  • “Youth demonstrate improved communication skills”

Indicator Quality Criteria

SMART-ER Indicators:

  • Specific: Clear and well-defined
  • Measurable: Quantifiable or clearly observable
  • Achievable: Realistic given resources and context
  • Relevant: Directly related to your objective
  • Time-bound: Clear deadline or timeframe
  • Evaluable: Data can realistically be collected
  • Resourced: You have budget and capacity to measure

Common Indicator Mistakes

Avoid These:

  • Activity indicators as outcome indicators: “Number of trainings held” doesn’t show behavior change
  • Impossible to measure: “Increased happiness” without defining how to measure happiness
  • Too many indicators: Keep to 2-3 per objective level
  • Vague language: “Significant increase” instead of specific percentage

📋 Sources of Verification

Primary Sources (You Collect)

Surveys and Questionnaires:

  • Baseline and endline surveys
  • Regular monitoring surveys
  • Participant feedback forms

Observations and Assessments:

  • Field visits and observations
  • Skills assessments and tests
  • Practice demonstrations

Administrative Data:

  • Project records and databases
  • Attendance and completion records
  • Financial tracking systems

Secondary Sources (Others Collect)

Government Statistics:

  • National and local government data
  • Health, education, economic indicators
  • Census and survey data

Partner Organizations:

  • NGO and partner reports
  • Academic research studies
  • Industry associations data

Community Sources:

  • Community leader reports
  • Local media coverage
  • Traditional record-keeping systems

⚠️ Managing Assumptions and Risks

Identifying Critical Assumptions

External Factors Beyond Your Control:

  • Political and policy environment remains stable
  • Economic conditions don’t deteriorate significantly
  • Target communities remain accessible
  • Partner organizations maintain capacity and commitment

Beneficiary Behavior Assumptions:

  • Participants will attend training sessions
  • Community members will adopt new practices
  • Local leaders will support project activities
  • Beneficiaries have basic prerequisite skills

Assumption Management Strategies

Risk Assessment Matrix:

Assumption Likelihood Impact if False Mitigation Strategy
Political stability High High Monitor closely, develop contingency plans
Community participation Medium Medium Strong outreach, incentive design
Partner capacity High Medium Capacity building, backup partnerships

Mitigation Approaches:

  • Monitor: Track indicators of assumption validity
  • Influence: Work to make assumptions more likely
  • Plan: Develop contingency strategies if assumptions fail
  • Accept: Some risks are unavoidable but manageable

🎨 Building Your Logframe Step-by-Step

Step 1: Extract from Theory of Change

  • Review your Theory of Change canvas
  • Identify the main impact, outcomes, and outputs
  • Note key assumptions from your theory

Step 2: Structure the Logic

  • Write goal statement (impact level)
  • Define 2-3 outcome statements
  • List 3-5 output statements
  • Plan 5-10 main activities

Step 3: Develop Indicators

  • 1-2 indicators per goal
  • 2-3 indicators per outcome
  • 1-2 indicators per output
  • Use mix of quantitative and qualitative

Step 4: Plan Data Collection

  • Identify data sources for each indicator
  • Plan collection methods and frequency
  • Estimate costs and assign responsibilities

Step 5: Test Assumptions

  • List critical external factors
  • Assess likelihood and potential impact
  • Develop monitoring and mitigation plans

📥 Download Resources

Essential Templates for This Lesson

🚀 Next Steps

After completing this lesson:

  1. Build your logframe using the Excel template
  2. Test with stakeholders to ensure logic makes sense
  3. Move to Lesson 2.2 on Activity Design to plan implementation
  4. Use your logframe as the foundation for proposal writing

Remember: Your logframe is a planning tool, not a rigid contract. Update it as you learn and circumstances change.