LFA

Logical Framework
Approach
Goal Oriented Project
Planning

Kari rtengren
Project Design AB
Sweden

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!

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

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

The nine steps of an LFA

analysis
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Analysis of projects Context

Analysis of Stakeholders
Problem Analysis/Situation Analysis
Objectives Analysis
Plan of Activities
Plan of Resources/Inputs
Indicators/measurements
Risk Analysis
Analysis of Assumptions

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

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

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

Step 2
Stakeholder
Analysis

Four main groups of stakeholders:

Beneficiaries
Implementers
Financing agents
Decision makers

PROBLEMANALYSIS
CRUCIAL!
As with weeds, the roots
must be tackled, if the weeds
are to disappear

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

Why a Problem Tree?

Problem Tree
Effects

Objective Tree
Overall objectives

Focal problem

Project Purpose

Causes

Results

Step 4: Objectives Analysis

Three 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 frame:Medium 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)
.

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

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...

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

SMART project purpose

Specific
Measurable
Accurate or Approved
Realistic
Time bound

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

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

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?

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 !!!

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

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?

Internet information on
LFA
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/ausguide/ausguidelines/1.ht
www.google.com/logical framework approach

ml

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/meth
ods/PCM_Manual_EN-march2001.pdf

LFA matrix/Log Frame

Overall
Objectives

Indicators

Sources of
Verifications

Assumptions

Project
Purpose

Indicators

Sources of
Verifications

Assumptions

Results

Indicators

Sources of
Verifications

Assumptions

Activities

Resources

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

How the LFA method

works depends on its
users
LFA is no better and no
worse than its users

Why GOPP (LFA)

Relevant, feasible
and sustainable
workshop
?
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

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