Indicators can be recorded, measured or analysed in order to provide a simple and reliable means to identify achievement measure the changes connected with an intervention
or to help assess performance.
Indicators can be
- quantitative (numeric),
- qualitative or
- pseudo-quantitative in case a number is converted to a scale (e.g. 1 = poor, 5 = good).
Contents
- Valid - Does the indicator directly represent the change it is intended to measure? Is the change within the scope of the project?
- Objective - Is the definition precise, simple and unambiguous about what is to be measured?
- Reliable - Is the data needed to measure the indicator consistent or comparable over time?
- Practical - Can data be collected easily, on a timely basis and at reasonable costs?
- Useful - Will the indicator data be useful for programme decision-making and learning?
- Owned - Do the local communities and programme management agree that this indicator makes sense?
SMART & SMARTER
SMART is a mnemonic/acronym, giving criteria to guide in the setting of objectives/indicators.
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
- (Evaluate)
- (Reevaluate)
See Wikipedia article
Categories/Levels of indicators
Indicators are of different types / levels / purposes
- Output-level indicators
- Outcome-level indicators
- Performance indicators
- Impact-level indicators
- Activity-level indicators
Examples of indicators
Indicators mentioned in the Copenhagen initiative output document
| Outcomes
|
Indicators
|
|---|
Physical and Psychological Safety
- Reduced number of mine/ERW related accidents/incidents reported in area of operation
- Reduced at-risk behaviours of target population at high risk of a mine/ERW accident
- Increased feeling of safety among beneficiaries
|
- Number of mine/ERW accidents/incidents
- Number of beneficiaries at risk of a mine/ERW related death or injury
- Number of reported instances of unsafe behaviour
- Level of awareness about mines/ERW in at-risk communities
- Level of concern about mines/ERW on the part of the target population
- Level of confidence in use of released land by target population
|
Land Use and Livelihoods
- Released land contributing to improved livelihoods
- Safe access to previously contaminated land
- Improved productive use of released land
|
- Proportion of released land put into productive use
- Number of people directly benefitting from use of released land
- Numbers of people accessing previously blocked resources and infrastructure
|
National Mine Action Ownership
- Improved national ability to oversee, manage and implement mine action activities
|
- Realistic estimation of mine and ERW problem
- Proportion of mine action activities driven by national strategy
- Level of national implementation capacity
- Level of compliance of database and information management system with national and international standards
- Proportion of mine action budget funded by national contribution
- Percentage of national staff in management and operational advisory positions
|
Indicators mentioned in DDG's publication on output monitoring
| Objective
|
Indicator
|
Evidence to collect at baseline and impact assessment
|
|---|
| Increase in productive use of released land
|
- Changes in use of released land
- Amount of released land brought into productive use e.g. housing or agriculture and grazing land
- Number of men and women benefiting from released land
|
- Describe current and former use of land
- Estimate the percentage of different land uses (e.g. 25 % agriculture, 30 % housing, 10 % infrastructure (roads), 20 % unused etc.)
- Estimate number of men and women benefiting from targeted land
|
|
Enable resettlement and return
|
- Number of men and women resettled on released land
- Number of refugees and / or IDPs returning to communities benefiting from mine action
|
- Describe current and former population in terms of IDP, refugee and host population
|
|
Improve access to markets and natural resources
|
- Changes in infrastructure
- Meters to market, main road, cultural important buildings...
- Time spent on collecting water
- Number of potential users, men and women
|
- Estimate meters to market, main road, cultural important buildings
- Estimate time spent on collecting water
- Estimate the number of potential users of infrastructure (e.g. users of roads, schools etc.)
|
|
Do no harm
|
- Changes in the number of conflicts over land
- Level of equal participation in decision making over use of released land
|
- Describe the situation e.g. the number of and nature of conflicts over land in the target area
- Describe the decision making process focusing both on men and women
|
|
Reduced violence and conflict
|
- Number of people who have had a violent encounter
- Men, women and children’s perceptions of the level of armed violence
|
- Estimate the ratio of violent encounters e.g. in the past twelve months
- Perceived level of armed violence amongst the people today
|
|
Reduced threats from explosive remnants of war
|
- Number of accidents (human and domestic animals)
- Number of people who worry about accidents with mines or remnants of war (feeling of safety)
- Level of knowledge on mine risks among the population
- Number of identified private owners of explosive remnants of war
|
- Number of accidents, men, women, children, animals
- Number of people who say they worry about accidents with mines or remnants of war
- Estimate awareness of mines and UXO in the population, disaggregate by gender and age
- Estimate number of identified private owners of explosive remnants of war
|
|
Improved security provision and conflict management
|
- Level of trust in policy
- Change in the percentage of people willing to report incidents of armed violence
- Formation of local strategies for armed violence prevention and reduction
|
- Measure community willingness to report
- Incidents of armed violence to police
- Number of local initiatives to counter armed violence
|
|
Reduced treats from SALW
|
- Number of firearm related accidents
- Percentage of people who say they worry about firearms
|
Estimate number of firearm related accidents
|
References