Given Hapunda

45 Translating Theory of Change into a Logical Framework Approach With a detailed blue print indicating how impact will be achieved, a logical framework approach can now be developed. According to the Australian Agency for International Development (2005), a logical framework approach (LFA) is a systematic analysis of the development situation, particularly key development problems and of options for addressing those problems. The LFA is a useful document for guiding project design and implementation. A good LFA should: 1. Be clear as possible about what you are trying to achieve and how it will be achieved. Much of this information can be obtained from a theory of change. 2. Describe how you will know if you are achieving your objectives and put in place a monitoring system. Information gathered during a shared vision exercise becomes useful at this stage. 3. Make explicit the conditions (assumptions) outside the direct control of the project that are critical for the project to successed and assess the risk for the project if these conditions fail to arise (IFAD, 2002). A well spelt out LFA can lead to better quality and shared understanding of the needs and strategies by all involved. To develop an LFA, there is need to: 1. Establish the general scope or focus of the project. 2. Agree on specific planning framework, terminology and design process. 3. Undertake or refer to a detailed situation analysis. 4. Develop the project strategy (objective hierarchy, implementation arrangement and resources). 5. Identify and analyse the assumptions and risks for the chosen strategies, modifying the project design if assumptions are incorrect or risk is too high. 6. Develop the monitoring and evaluation framework (IFAD, 2002). Logical Framework Matrix The written output of the LFA is known as the log frame matrix (LFM), perhaps the most commonly used documents to guide project design and especially implementation. The LFM is a standard matrix table with four rows and for columns hence known as a 4x4 matrix table (see Table 2 below). This matrix summarises: 1. What the project should achieve, from the level of the goal down to specific activities. 2. The performance questions or indicators that will be used to monitor progress and overall achievement.