Section 3: Reference Materials

Reference #12: Results-Based Objectives

Results-Based Objectives Defined

The word objective is used in many different ways. We hear project managers, implementers, trainers and planners speak about operational objectives, project objectives, instructional objectives, performance objectives, development objectives, learning objectives, long-term objectives, short-term objectives, and so on. In its most basic form, the word objective simply means “something aimed at.” But, there can be a great deal of variation in the types of things that are aimed at.

A results-based objective is an objective that aims at a specific result. A results-based objective, and an intended result are the same thing.

An objective is something that is aimed at. A result is a change that is the consequence of actions. A result-based objective is an objective that aims to achieve a specific change or result.

Objective (Intended Result) The result the action is aimed at

Action The result the action is aimed at

Actual Result The result the action is aimed at

Relationship Between Objectives and Goals

Although the terms objectives and goals are sometimes used interchangeably, more often goals are defined as broader, longer-term aims, while objectives are considered more immediate and precise aims. Often, several objectives lead to the same goal. For example:

Objectives		Medium Term Goal		Long-Term Goal
1. Update and improve knowledge and skills of health centre workers
2. Improve the library on sexual and reproductive health in the health care centre		Develop a health centre that provides high quality sexual and reproductive health services to all members of the community		Improve the sexual and reproductive health of men and women in the community
3. Expand the clientele of health care centre to include men, adolescent girls and boys, and women beyond reproductive age

Criteria of Good Objectives

A well-formulated objective is a useful tool for project managers, implementers and trainers as it provides specific information about what the action is supposed to achieve. A well written results-based objective is G-SMART, i.e., it has the following characteristics. It is:

G = Gender sensitive
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Relevant
T = Time Bound

Specific: use specific rather than generalized language, i.e., clearly state the issue, the target group, the time and place of the project.

Measurable: be clear about what will be changed and by how much. Remember that the objective itself does not have to state how the measurement will be made, or how the expected change will be assessed. That is the job of “indicators.” (These are described in the next reference section.)

Achievable: be realistic about what the project can achieve in terms of the scale and scope of what is being done and the time and resources that are available.

Relevant: objectives need to relate to and be relevant to the broader goals. Remember objectives are the building blocks/steps toward meeting the goals.

Time Specific: be clear in the objectives about the timeframe in which the project/activities (as well as expected changes) will take place.

Remember that objectives relate to intended results, not to project activities or processes. For example: An NGO is planning a new pre-natal nutrition awareness project. Objective: To “improve the diet of expectant mothers” and hence “improve the health of babies.” Activity: To provide nutrition information to new mothers. Do not confuse activities with results. Providing information is an activity to enable the objective to be achieved.

Format for Good Objectives

Different donors and organizations use different formats for writing and presenting project objectives. Some donors now avoid the word “objective” and instead focus on the results to be achieved.

The following table shows one approach to developing good objectives. Planners using this approach identify four things:

a) the beneficiaries of the change that is envisaged;
b) the specific change that is envisaged;
c) how many will benefit;
d) the target date for achieving the change.

This information can be developed in chart form and then translated into statements of
objectives.

Identify the beneficiary of the change	Identify the product to be produced, or the type of change to be achieved	Quantify the change	Identify the target date
Women from the district	New knowledge and skills related to maternity services	150 women	within three months
Poor children from the district	Increase in school enrollment rates	20 percent increase for girls and 20 percent increase for boys	by the end of January
NGO Organization	Improved gendersensitive financial system	1 new system	by the end of the year
Government ministry	New and improved gender-sensitive planning skills	10 staff (5 men and 5 women) from the ministry	by December 2003
Rural Schools	Increased supply of textbooks	10 schools, each with 200 new textbooks that are gender-sensitive and equally suitable for boy and girl students	by September 2003
Women and men in the community	Decreased incidence of assaults on women	50 percent decrease	within a year

The above can readily be translated into statements of objectives, e.g.,

• 150 women in the district with new knowledge and skills related to maternity services, within three months
• A 20 percent increase in the enrollment rates of poor girl and boy children from the district, by the end of January
• The specific NGO organization will have an improved gender-sensitive financial system in place and operating by the end of the year.
• Ten staff (5 men and 5 women) from the specific government ministry will have acquired new and improved gender-sensitive planning skills by the end of December 2003.
• Ten rural schools will each increase their textbook supply by 200 gender-sensitive textbooks that are equally suitable for boy and girl students, by September 2003
• Women and men in the community will experience a 50 percent decrease in the number of assaults on women, within a year.

Checklist for Assessing Objectives

• Is it gender-sensitive?
• Is it specific, i.e., does it clearly state the issue, the target group (beneficiaries) and the time and place if appropriate.
• Is it measurable, i.e., is it clear what will be changed and by how much?
• Is it achievable, i.e., is it realistic to think that the project can achieve the result in the specified time with the resources that it has available to it.
• Is it relevant to the overall goals. Remember that objectives are building blocks toward meeting broader, longer-term goals of the project.
• Is the time frame clear?

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