Logframe

The logframe, or logical framework matrix, is a planning and management tool used in project design, monitoring, and evaluation, especially in international development and humanitarian aid. It provides a concise, structured representation of a project’s objectives, outputs, activities, and the assumptions that link them to higher-level goals.

A typical logframe is organized as a matrix with four levels of objective: Goal, Purpose, Outputs, and Activities. Each level is paired with Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) and Means of Verification (MoV), plus critical Assumptions about external factors. The Goal describes the intended broad impact, the Purpose the direct user-level change, the Outputs the tangible deliverables, and the Activities the tasks carried out to produce the outputs.

Use and process: Logframes are usually developed during project design in workshops, possibly with a logframe matrix as a central planning document. They are used to articulate a clear causal chain, align stakeholders, and establish performance indicators. During implementation, the logframe serves as a monitoring and reporting framework, guiding data collection and progress assessment and helping to identify risks and adaptation needs.

Benefits and criticisms: Advocates credit logframes with enhancing focus, accountability, and communication with donors. Critics say they can be rigid, risk oversimplifying complex programs, inflate the importance of indicators, and require substantial maintenance. They may also underrepresent context, learning, and adaptive management.

Origins: The logframe emerged from the Logical Framework Approach developed in the 1960s–1970s by international aid agencies such as the OECD Development Assistance Committee, and has since become widely used by governments, NGOs, and multilateral institutions.