SPC Logical Framework Approach Training Project Part II

The Logical Framework Approach (LFA) is a useful process and set of tools used to design and plan projects. This page provides a case study summary of how training in the LFA was applied to improve proposal writing in six Pacific Small Island States. This case study (Part II) follows on from the first round of training in ‘using the logical framework approach to inform proposal writing’, This page contains:

The 'Logical Framework Approach to inform Proposal Preparation' project was implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Background information can be found here. The project was funded by the European Union (EU).  Pacific Research and Evaluation Associates (PREA) were contracted to develop training resources and deliver the workshops.

 

 

Changes and Improvements

The training program and resources was revised and improved to reflect feedback received during the first round of training.  Key improvements made to the training program and resourced included:
  • Introduction of a ‘situation analysis’ step at the start of the LFA
  • More details and more time allocated to cover the timeline and budget steps
  • Introduction to monitoring tools to measure project progress and impact
  • One-on-one mentoring was piloted in during the Cook Islands training workshop

The situation analysis step was added to explicitly require participants to think about what they already know about the selected sector/topic, what the existing sources of information are and what gaps might exist that need filling.

Feedback from the first round of training found that participants still had trouble breaking activities from the logframe down into smaller tasks to inform the timeline. The training resources now provide much greater detail in the steps to follow the break activities down into smaller tasks and how to estimate how long tasks will take to complete.

The collection of baseline data and ongoing monitoring data to assess project progress and impacts was acknowledged as an area where participating countries could needed assistance. The revised training program and resources address this through dedicated content on developing monitoring plans, monitoring tools and reporting actual results against set targets. The use of free open source mobile phone survey software FieldTask (and supporting SMAP server) was also demonstrated.

 

About the Training Workshops

Each training session was delivered by two facilitators over four days. A sample workshop agenda can be found here

Training delivery included a mix of informative presentations, large group activities to demonstrate new knowledge and skills followed by small group activities where participants were challenged to use the knowledge and skills for real-life project ideas they wanted to develop.  This delivery method facilitated the development of skills and the confidence to put them into practice, either in proposal preparation or in general work duties.   

Participants were provided with a learner guide, copies of slides, and electronic resources on a USB drive. The most recent Training and Learning resources can be found below.

LFA

Training and Learning Resources

The training and learning resources that formed the LFA training project are provided below to assist future training and capacity building efforts in project design and proposal preparation.

Presentation Slides

The presentation slides cover the four days of training.

Download Introduction and Module 1 Slides Download Module 2 (main steps) Slides
day 1 slides day 1 slides
Download Module 3 (monitoring) Slides Download Module 4 and 5 (timeline and budget) Slides
day 1 slides day 1 slides

 

Learner Guide

The learner guide complements the presentations slides and the activities in the training workshop. The guide can be used as a stand-alone resource on using the LFA in proposal preparation.

Download Learner Guide
learner_guide

 

 

Impact of the LFA for Proposal Preparation Training

An impact evaluation of the training workshops was conducted between three to six months after each training using an online questionnaire and some phone calls. Fifty five workshop participants responded to the impact evaluation survey. The timing of the survey meant that 20 participants who attended the Cook Islands workshop were not included in the evaluation.

Overall the LFA training appears to have been successful in building the skills and knowledge of participants to enhance their confidence in the use of the LFA, and supporting participants to submit logical and well structured project proposals.  

“This simple step-by-step guide is applicable to most any proposal development, makes it easy to know where to get started.” [Palau participant]

It is not possible to attribute the development of the funding proposals or their success in obtaining funding with the LFA training. However, when considering participant feedback, it is clear that the training has built the capacity of participants to design better projects and write better proposals. 

The piloting of post-workshop one-on-one mentoring in the Cook Islands was effective and valued by participants who were able to continue working on their project ideas and in some cases complete a project proposal.

 

Number of participants trained: 125 across 6 countries.

 

Number of proposals submitted: 40.   Thirty seven proposals submitted used the LFA.  Twenty were successfully funded and seventeen are still awaiting confirmation.

 

Confidence in using the steps of the LFA and in proposal writing

Overall, the level of confidence in undertaking the main steps of the LFA increased. Participants expressed more confidence in performing the situation analysis, stakeholder analysis, and problem and solution analysis.  More participants indicated they could perform other steps (logframe and developing an M&E plan) with the assistance of others. The timeline and budget steps remain those which participants are less confident with. 

 

“With the training I would like to say that the most benefits I gained from the training is how to analyse problem and their solution especially to understand well on how to create problem & solution tree.” [Tuvalu participant]

“The biggest benefit for me would have to be the confidence I now have in preparing project proposals. This arises from the easy-to-follow steps of the LFA.” [Tuvalu participant]

 

How the LFA is used

Overall, respondents reported that the LFA steps had been used more often in performing their general work duties (used 223 times) compared to developing a project proposal (used 151 times). This demonstrates that the LFA training has built capacity of staff not only in proposal preparation but also in the performance of their role in government, or other sectors. This emphasises the benefits of the LFA process in planning for both work (e.g. strategic planning) and proposal preparation. As such the investment in the training programme has brought wider benefits than intended.

Use of the LFA

 

“This training has provided me more understanding of using the logical framework approach for analysing and solving planning problems and for designing and managing their solutions which summarises what the project intends to do and how, what the key assumptions are, and how outputs and outcomes will be monitored and evaluated, basically this is relevant to my current job in appraising and developing project proposals from the line ministries.” [Tonga participant]

 

A summary of recommendation from the impact evaluation are presented below:

  1. Integrate the LFA into country-level project design documentation to promote its application.
  2. Designate a local or regional LFA focal point as a mentor to provide support to participants to apply the LFA.
  3. Provide more one-one-one mentoring to support the development of project proposals after the standard 4-day workshop is conducted.
  4. Design and deliver separate training workshops on monitoring and evaluation (2-3 days) and budgeting (2-3 days).
  5. Investigate opportunities to develop an accredited course or subjects for project design (LFA) and monitoring and evaluation that covers off on different topics in detail over longer time periods.
  6. Design and deliver a training programme in the use of smartphone survey technology (e.g. FieldTask) to selected participants using a ‘train the trainer’ model.
  7. Develop internal capacity within SPC or other CROP agency in the use of smartphone survey technology (e.g. FieldTask and SMAP) to support member countries in the use of this technology.

 

LFM

 

For more information about the SPC LFA training project, contact the SPC Geoscience Division.

To book an LFA training session for your organisaiton, contact PREA.