Project design with the Logical Framework Approach

The main steps in the Logical Framework Approach are:

• Getting to know the context
• Identifying the stakeholders
• Problem tree analysis (WS)
• Formulating the objectives tree (WS)
• Choosing the project’s main strategy (WS)
• Formulating the logframe (WS)
• Verifying the project’s design

Although you can go step by step through this process, you mustn’t forget that this is not a linear process per se. You may need to come back to a previous step, or you may want to go through these phases in a different order. For instance, you may want to start be identifying the stakeholders and the identify the problems with them, but you can also start by identifying the problem and then see who is most impacted by them (and maybe do a closer problem identification with them).

The main activity during the design phase of a project using LFA is a workshop with the stakeholders. But before you get together a group of people, it is important to get to know the environment in which your project will take place.

Learning about the context

Getting to know the context can be done in several ways:

• Reading reports, books, documents, websites
• Studying maps
• Talking with (local) experts
• Field visits
• Feasibility study

Things to learn about:

• Is there a need for your specific expertise/assistance?
• Potential beneficiaries/target groups
• Potential intervention areas
• Potential for funding/financing
• Potential partners, networks
• Potential competition
• Potential impact of your interventions
• Political, social, economic situation of the country/region/area
• (Recent) history
• Current and potential market situation, economic stability
• Available human resources, level of education
• Gender situation, discrimination, social (in)stability
• Infrastructure, ICT, logistics
• Security situation
• Climatic conditions, natural risks (droughts, earthquakes, rains…)

With all this information as your background, it is time to identify who will be / has to be involved in the project.