1. Objectives and Indicators for MCH Programs
MCH in Developing Countries 1

2. Objectives and Indicators
Session goals
Promote an understanding of the importance of good objectives and indicators, and their contribution to effective program management
Provide or refine skills needed to develop MCH program objectives

3. Objectives and Indicators
Session objectives -- by the end of the session, participants should be able to:
Explain the terms “goal,’ “objective,” “indicator” and “target”
Describe the characteristics of objectives and indicators that are useful for program management
Write a “smart” objective for the country project and state its corresponding indicator

4. Why discuss MCH program objectives?
How will you know if you are successful if you don’t identify what you want to do?
There are always limited resources
Clear objectives are often a donor requirement
Developing appropriate and useful objectives is not always simple or intuitive
Note -- they are NOT a substitute for “doing the right thing” based on a needs assessment

5. Logic model flow chart - how program efforts contribute to program goals
Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Terms will vary!

6. Assignments, tasks, stuff we do to achieve our objectives
Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Activities are any action, funded or unfunded, undertaken to achieve a program result
Assignments, tasks, stuff we do to achieve our objectives

7. Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Objectives can include anything clearly intended to be achieved through the program or project
Output level objectives are those resulting from first order activities
Impact level objectives refer to the desired long-term or ultimate result
Outcomes -- Intermediate objectives that fall somewhere between these two

8. Outputs vs. Outcomes
Example: Number of pregnant women delivering in a health facility is an output. Percentage of those delivering in a health facility who deliver a newborn without complications is an outcome.
Not how many worms the bird feeds its young, but how well the fledgling flies
(United Way of America)
Source: University of Wisconsin Extension, Program and Evaluation 8

9. Frequently “bean counting”
Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Results
Output level objectives are those that result from activities -- things your program does
In most instances don’t represent population change
Important area for program/project monitoring
Frequently “bean counting”
Useful for program management purposes
And -- donors may hold you accountable for the beans

10. Processes Objectives Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes Impact
Impact and outcomes are…
Changes in the condition or behavior of a program participant or changes in conditions that affect a participant: results
Whether an objective is a impact or outcome depends on its level in the causality chain
Impact describes the long-term results
Outcomes describe the immediate effects on participants
The ability of a program to produce results (i.e., outcomes, impact, or both) depends on your resources, program duration, and many, many social, economic and cultural conditions that affect participants in the program

11. Causality Processes Objectives Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes
Impact
Causality 11

12. Processes Objectives Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes Impact
Objectives should be the highest order objectives for which you can be held accountable
They should be S M A R T :
S - simple
M - measurable (in the program setting)
A - appropriate (technically correct, important)
R - realistic
T - time-limited

13. Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Let’s consider this objective...
The project will improve the understanding of mothers about the importance of oral rehydration therapy and how to correctly mix ORS.

14. Let’s try again…. Processes Objectives Inputs Activities Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Let’s try again….

15. The project will increase immunization coverage to 80%
Processes
Objectives
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Let’s consider another objective...
The project will increase immunization coverage to 80%

16. Let’s try again…. Processes Objectives Inputs Activities Outputs
Outcomes
Impact
Let’s try again….

17. Measures By…, v% coverage By …, coverage will increase from w% to x%
By…, coverage will increase by y%
By…, coverage will increase by z percentage points 17

18. Additional terms: Indicators… Target…
Inputs
Activities
Processes
Outputs
Objectives
Outcomes
Impact
Indicators…
Answer the question, “How will we measure what we have achieved?”
Target…
the specific level of achievement

19. What is the indicator and target for the immunization objective?

20. Indicator:
Target :

21. Who to involve in setting objectives and indicators?
Selecting
Indicators
Who to involve in setting objectives and indicators?
Project staff
Others familiar with relevant data
The community, partners
Published literature, project reports
When?
Iterative - As work on program development proceeds
Check feasibility before finalizing
It’s usually OK to revise objectives if rationale is provided

22. Practicality Are the data associated with the indicator practical?
How will you collect the data?
Are quality data currently available?
Can routine data can be procured on a regular and timely and economical basis?
Will you need to conduct a survey or special studies?

23. All of these contribute to the program goals -- broad, long-term intended results
Inputs
Activities
Processes
Outputs
Objectives
Outcomes
Impact
Indicators