SOW 3108:PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

STUDENT NOTES COMPILED BY [Link]

THE PROJECT FRAMEWORK
The project framework helps to clarify and conceptualize the project and is a useful
tool upon which project managers can build up their understanding of [Link]
framework (or logical framework as it is sometimes known) was initially developed
primarily as a tool to assist with the design, preparation and evaluation of projects.
Many donor agencies have since adopted variants of the framework as a basis for
planning, appraising and subsequently evaluation of the projects that they support.
Project Managers are able to use the idea of the project framework equally as donor
agencies. It serves as an aid to help them clarify the project objectives, as a tool to
increase their understanding of its various components and as a basis for establishing
monitoring system.

The project framework defines clearly the project objectives in such a way that logical
linkages are established between a hierarchical set of sub-objectives, each set of
which ultimately contributes to the final developmental aim of the project. The
objectives are described in a vertical column showing project inputs being
transformed into project outputs, which contribute to project purposes and ultimately
project goals. The column called the narrative summary is linked to a second column
which defines the main assumptions on which the linkages between inputs, outputs,
purposes and goals are based. The third column identifies quantitative indicators
which measure the achievement of the objectives of the project at its various levels. A
final column defines means of measuring such project indicators.
 The Framework of the projects
Narrative Assumptions Indicators Means of
summary Verification
Goals Improved Health education will be Reduction in Hospital and
health of rural available regarding deaths and clinic statistics
population cleanliness, sanitation. sickness due to
Other environmental factors water borne
contributing to ill health. diseases.

Purposes Increased Rural population will wish Utilization of Field surveys

consumption to use pumps, rather than wells. and
of safe water rely on traditional sources. Per capital observation
Pumps will operate consumption Records of
satisfactorily and can be of water pump
maintained. breakdowns
sometime
Outputs 100 Wells Accessible ground water is Number of Field
drilled, and available in the project area. completed inspection
installed with Suitable location for wells wells. Project
hand pumps can be found Records
Inputs Resources Assumptions regarding Deliverable
Skilled labor acquisition of projects Purchase of Invoices
and unskilled equipment.(Project equipment. Receipts from
labor. materials will be available Paid labour purchases
Finance, in shops) through wages Payment
materials and or salaries. vouchers
equipment.

The narrative summary

The narrative summary lies at the heart of the project framework. The main objectives
of the project in the narrative summary context are defined as project goals, purposes,
outputs and inputs.
Goals
Goals define the broad development objectives which for most projects tend to be
described in economic or demographic terms either at the national or regional level.
Project purposes
Project purposes are generally described in terms of the factors that contribute to the
achievement of the overall objectives for example increased consumption of safe
water, production of goods for export or improvement in the levels of nutrition among
poor families.(In some versions of the project framework goals and purposes are
called respectively impacts and effects)
Project outputs
Project outputs contribute to the achievement of the purposes .They may not be
sufficient by themselves to achieve these purposes: outputs from other projects may
also be required or other conditions satisfied before project purposes are achieved.
The use of the word output can give rise to some confusion since it is often used to
mean the physical outcome of a production process. In this context, however project
outputs refer to the tangible physical and institutional structures established through
the project. It is the operation of these structures that enables the project purposes to
be achieved. Examples of project outputs include wells for the provision of safe water,
factories that are established to produce a particular product, clinics providing advice
and medication to expectant women, and irrigation schemes that allow farmers
increase production and employ more labor
Project Inputs
Project inputs are the resources required to establish and produce the project output.
These include finance, skilled and unskilled labor, materials, capital equipment and
technical assistance among others.
Assumptions
Assumptions relate to complementary outputs from other projects which are necessary
to support links in the chain of project objectives. The relationships between the
project goals, purposes, outputs and inputs are represented in project framework as a
vertical logic from the mobilization of resources to attainment of development targets
at the sectoral, regional or national level. However the feasibility of this logical is
based on various assumptions which are also defined in the framework, in a second
vertical column associated with the narrative summary. These assumptions relate first
to complementary outputs from other projects which are necessary to support links in
the chain of project objectives for instance, increased provision of clean water will not
lead to improved rural health unless it is accompanied by a health education effort
which may well be the intended output of another project. Second assumptions relate
to conditions in the environment which must be satisfied before the causative links
will operate. Thus locations for wells must be found which suitable not only in
physical terms but also socially and culturally: suitability may be affected by such
factors as landownership. And traditional patterns of water collection over which
project managers have little influence and which therefore form part of the project
environment.
Assumptions are made at each level of the project framework regarding the conditions
necessary for the successful transformation of project inputs into outputs the
contribution of outputs to purposes to goals. It is therefore consistent to make no
assumptions are at the lowest level, regarding the acquisition of project inputs since
this lies entirely within the managerial interest. This is not necessarily to say therefore
that the task of resources acquisition is easy of project managers but rather that this
task is an integral part of their overall responsibility .without inputs there can be no
outputs and an essential feature of the managers` job is to acquire and control the
necessary inputs.
Experience indicates that where projects fail, the assumptions made by planners and
managers have often proved invalid for some reason. The main assumptions indicated
in the project framework are those that establish the causative nature between the
project inputs, outputs, purpose and goals. If for any reason these become invalid
there will be a profound effective on the outcome of the project.
Indicators
Indicators measure achievement at different levels. The narrative summary represents
the causative linkages between the main project elements in a progression that begins
with resource inputs and end with the attainment of development goals. If however
these elements are to have more than just a theoretical bases, they need to be
redefined in practical terms. The project framework attempts to do this through the
identification and quantification of indication which measures achievement at the
different levels. As much as possible the indicators should be precise and quantifiable
in order that there can be no ambiguity about success or failure in achieving them.
Indicators also make possible comparison of project inputs with the completion of
project output and achievement of project purposes and goals, thus providing the basis
for project evaluation.
Means of verification
Means of verification can be to establish the basis for monitoring system. The means
of actually measuring the indicators completes the framework, again using a vertical
logic. This can be used to establish the basis for monitoring system, both for the
project itself and for subsequent operation of the system.