tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719829.post7048192715872725831..comments2024-03-27T12:04:05.897+00:00Comments on Rick On the Road: On the poverty of baselines and targets...Rick Davieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07028422984421301184noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719829.post-47081166998181428022010-01-26T15:53:45.509+00:002010-01-26T15:53:45.509+00:00In my experience with projects I have never seen i...In my experience with projects I have never seen it work either- baselines compared to end of project. But I've seen disappointed farmers- tired of answering the same questions and they don't see much of the actual project. <br /><br />I wonder if you can't simply link to national data (already existing) and make it plausible that you made a contribution?Joitskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09087406142343521335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719829.post-78913455899584246852009-12-23T22:10:36.197+00:002009-12-23T22:10:36.197+00:00On the other hand, a lot of donors make no effort ...On the other hand, a lot of donors make no effort at all to see that agencies implementing project collect baseline data of any kind. I have seen several projects in the $10 million+ range where considerable original effort was made by the implementing agency and partners to define some intelligent indicators, but no data was ever collected, over a 5-7 year period on the baseline for any of them.<br /><br />But the same agencies have also insisted that NGOs with small grants ($25,000) deliver the goods on baseline data.<br /><br />I think collecting the data is useful, not just for evaluation purposes at the end of the project, but to test the logic of the project, and the feasibility of data collection. If we have enough intelligent indicators, tested through baseline data collection, then some can be disposed of later, if they don't relate to reality, and new and more relevant indicators added to supplement those that remain. <br /><br />Some UN agencies seem to like the idea of "reconstructing baseline data" almost as standard procedure, and while this can be useful where new indicators are developed, I can't see the logic, other than ineptitude, for using it on indicators that were agreed upon - often after considerable discussion - at the beginning of a project.<br /><br />So, on balance, if the policy on collecting baseline data is leavened with the possibility of developing new indicators later, I think DFID may be on the right track.Greg Armstronghttp://www.results-based-management.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719829.post-47236145541818149772009-11-01T22:43:30.325+00:002009-11-01T22:43:30.325+00:00Yes, the DFID guidance does include baseline requi...Yes, the DFID guidance does include baseline requirements for Outputs. <br /><br />But what Outputs mean is a very open question. In the Indonesian project I am refering to the Outputs were in practice defined as changes taking place within the Govt of Indonesia, not services or goods provided by the assisting international agency to the Govt Of Indonesia. To me it is the latter which should be classed as Outputs, and as you suggest they dont need a baseline, because they by definition start at 0 at the begining of a projectRick Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07028422984421301184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719829.post-69438471424170737412009-11-01T20:24:45.760+00:002009-11-01T20:24:45.760+00:00Hello Rick,
I am surprised to read that this focus...Hello Rick,<br />I am surprised to read that this focus on base line data is so much present for output level. So often, measuring outputs is like simple counters that start counting at 0 (so base line data are redundant). At outcome level of course it takes more energy, but maybe that's just a matter of definition. regards, wouter rijneveldAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09549678304842559402noreply@blogger.com