Udviklingsmålet

Udviklingsmålet is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to denote the development goal or the primary objective that a policy, program, or project aims to achieve. It refers to a specific, long-term change in conditions that development efforts are designed to contribute to, such as improved health, education, economic conditions, or environmental outcomes.

In practice, the udviklingsmålet is part of a planning and evaluation framework. It is typically stated at a high level and is linked to a chain of results that includes outputs, activities, and intermediate outcomes. The goal is intended to reflect the intended impact of the intervention once completed, or after a defined period of time. The singular form, udviklingsmålet, is used when referring to a particular initiative’s main objective within a document or discussion.

Distinctions within planning contexts are common. The udviklingsmålet is broader and longer-term than delmål (sub-goals or milestones), which describe more immediate, measurable steps to be achieved during implementation. The mål is usually accompanied by indicators and targets to enable monitoring and evaluation.

Usage can be found in government development plans, donor project documents, NGO program descriptions, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. While the wording of udviklingsmålet varies by program, it is generally anchored in the intended change the intervention seeks to produce and is assessed through related indicators and impact assessments.

See also: logframe, result-based management, indicators, SMART criteria, Sustainable Development Goals.