GUIDANCE ON OUTCOMES AND INDICATORS FOR THE ACTIVE CITIZENS FUND
Purpose of this document
This document provides guidance on the design and selection of outcomes and outcome indicators
for the Active Citizens Fund. It aims to improve the quality of the outcomes and indicators and align
reporting on progress and achievements across the fifteen Active Citizen Funds. It is intended for use
in conjunction with the Civil Society Results Manual (Annex B to the Civil Society Manual).
A shared framework for reporting on progress and achievements does not preclude variations in the
wording of outcomes and indicators, or the use of specific outcomes and indicators at programme and
project levels to fit local contexts. However FOs are encouraged to align their outcomes and indicators
to this framework as much as possible, in order to allow for aggregated results tracking and reporting
across programmes.
Use of this document
This Guidance is intended for use during two stages of programme development:
(i)
Guidance for bidders for the Fund Operator role when preparing the programme
intervention logic, comprising expected outcomes, outcome indicators and key risks to
outcomes (see Bid Form section 7.4, and Terms of Reference section 2.8)
Guidance for selected Fund Operators when preparing the results framework annexed to the
Programme Implementation Agreement (see Mandatory Results Framework Template in Civil
Society Results Manual). This comprises outcomes, outcome indicators, unit of measurement,
baseline value and year, targets, and sources of information. It is prepared in dialogue with
the FMO and incorporates input from the stakeholder consultation.
(ii)
Following the selection of Fund Operators, and prior to preparing the final programme results
framework, this Guidance document will be updated to include core and bilateral indicators that
reflect donor concerns and should be integrated into the final programme results framework.
Contents of this document
This document comprises a table in three sections:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Section 1 provides indicative outcomes, indicators and sources of information aligned to
the main eligible areas of support and programme area specifics (see ToR section 1.3
and 1.4);
Section 2 provides indicative outcomes and indicators for capacity building and
sustainability (see ToR section 2.2);
Section 3 provides indicative outcomes and indicators for Regional Civil Society
Initiatives (see ToR section 2.4).
Footnotes provide additional indicative guidance on the terms used in the document.
Section 1: Indicative Outcomes and Indicators for the eligible areas of support1
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Area of
Support
1. Democracy,
active
citizenship,
good
governance
and
transparency
Indicative
Outcomes
Increased citizen
participation in
civic activities3
Indicative Indicators2
Number of citizens (by gender) engaged
in CSO activities4
Number of volunteers working in
supported CSOs (by gender)
Public institutions
consult CSOs in
decision making
processes
Number of targeted public institutions
that consult with CSOs and/or citizens5
Strengthened
democratic culture
and civic
awareness6
Number of citizens in the target groups
(by gender) with higher level of civic
awareness
Strengthened civil
society
watchdog/advocacy
role
Indicative sources
of information
Surveys and project
monitoring
(national databases
in some countries)
Surveys
Number and type of practices, policies,
laws consulted with CSOs
Number of citizens in the target groups
(by gender) who have participated in a
consultation with a public decision
making body during the past 12 months
Number and type of monitoring
initiatives of public and private decisionmaking
Surveys
Project monitoring
Number and type of initiatives to
promote transparency in public/private
decision making
2. Human
rights and
equal
treatment on
the grounds of
1
Civil society
organisations
actively defend
human rights and
promote equal
Number and type of initiative which was
successful in obtaining information on
public/private decision making
Number of supported CSOs engaged in
advocacy work on human rights and
equal treatment
Survey
The indicators of capacity building and sustainability in section 2 may be adapted and included in the indicators in section
1 where relevant
2
All quantitative indicators should be supplemented with qualitative (narrative) information on the indicator.
3
CSO/civic activities are activities that engage the active participation of citizens in initiatives that address their needs
and/or aims. Examples include the suggested measures in the ToR section 1.5.
4 CSOs are defined as civil society organizations supported by the Active Citizens Funds, both project promoters and their
partners.
5 Public institutions refers to local, regional or central government institutions and public authorities/agencies
6 Democratic political culture depends on the acceptance by both citizens and political elites of a shared system of
democratic norms and values. These include tolerance of diversity, interpersonal trust, social capital and a sense of political
efficacy on the part of individuals. A democratic political culture also requires that citizens have knowledge about their
system of government.
2
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Area of
Support
racial or ethnic
origin, religion
or belief,
gender,
disability, age,
sexual
orientation or
gender identity
Indicative
Outcomes
treatment on the
grounds of racial or
ethnic origin,
religion or belief,
gender, disability,
age, sexual
orientation or
gender identity
3. Social justice Vulnerable groups
and inclusion
are empowered
of vulnerable
groups
4. Gender
equality and
gender-based
violence
Indicative Indicators2
Indicative sources
of information
Number of citizens (by gender) whose
awareness of human rights is raised by
CSOs
Number of supported CSOs engaged in
oversight of human rights
implementation
Number of supported CSOs engaged in
combating discrimination
Perception of empowerment among
targeted vulnerable groups
Number and type of innovative (new or
improved) methods, services, policies
and approaches addressing the needs of
vulnerable groups
Civil society
organizations
actively advocate
for vulnerable
groups
Number of supported CSOs advocating
for the needs of vulnerable groups7
Increased
responsiveness of
public services to
the needs of
vulnerable groups
Number of beneficiaries (by gender)
from targeted vulnerable groups
reporting improved access
to/satisfaction with services
CSOs actively
address gender
equality and GBV
Number and type of public campaigns on
gender equality/GBV by supported CSOs
Focus group
discussions
Project reports
Survey/project
reports
Survey/project
reports
Survey
Project reports
Level of awareness of GBV
Increased
awareness of GBV
Improved attitudes
towards GBV
Survey
Attitudes towards GBV
Level of awareness of gender equality
Increased
awareness of
gender equality
Attitudes towards gender equality
Improved attitudes
towards gender
equality
Level of satisfaction by users with
integrated GBV services provided by the
programme (before and after)
Surveys or Focus
Group Discussions
Survey
Survey or Focus
Group Discussions
Survey
7
The expression ‘vulnerable groups’ refers to women, ethnic, minorities, immigrants, and other disadvantaged groups,
who in many countries have not been part of the traditional mainstream that has benefitted from economic growth. For
this reason, these disenfranchised groups have tended not to participate in the political process, nor have they learned the
advocacy or monitoring skills needed to represent or safeguard their own interests.
3
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Area of
Support
Indicative
Outcomes
Improved
integrated services
for victims of GBV
5. Environment Increased civic
and climate
engagement in
change
environmental
protection/climate
change
Increased citizen
participation in
decision making on
environmental
matters/climate
change
Increased access to
justice in
environmental
matters/climate
change
Improved methods
for addressing
environmental
protection/climate
change
Indicative Indicators2
Indicative sources
of information
Number of citizens (by gender) engaged
in environmental protection/climate
change activities
Project reports
Number of citizens (by gender)
participating in decision-making on
environmental matters/climate change
Project reports
Project reports
Number of CSOs engaged in advocacy on
environmental protection/climate
change
Existence and type of judicial or
administrative recourse procedures for
citizens on environmental matters (Yes
or No)
Number of times an environmental
judicial or administrative recourse
procedure has been used
Number and type of innovative (new or
improved) methods, services, policies
and approaches addressing
environmental protection/climate
change
Official records
Official records
Project reports
4
Section 2: Indicative outcomes and indicators for capacity building and sustainability8
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Capacity
building and
sustainability of
the civil society
sector
Level 1:
Organizational
capacity and
sustainability:
Indicative
Outcomes
Indicative Indicators9
Indicative sources
of information
CSOs show
transparent and
accountable
governance
procedures
Existence of good governance
procedures10
Project
reports/monitoring
Effective,
accountable
CSOs show
and sustainable effective
CSOs
management
procedures
CSO activities are
guided by
strategic planning
CSOs monitor and
evaluate the
results of their
work
CSOs
communicate the
results of their
activities to the
public
CSOs have a
diversified funding
base
8
Number of individual CSOs with good
governance procedures
Existence of good management
procedures11
Project
reports/monitoring
Number of individual CSOs with good
management procedures
Number of CSOs with strategic plans
Number of CSOs conducting an
assessment of their organizational
capacity building needs
Number of CSOs that have developed
an M&E system for their work12
Project
reports/monitoring
Number of CSOs that regularly
disseminate information on their
activities and results to the public13
Project
reports/monitoring
Percent of target CSOs that are have
more than one source of funding
Surveys/project
monitoring
Indicators in this section may be relevant to the areas of support in section 1 and can be adapted and included among the
indicators under section 1.
9
All quantitative indicators should be supplemented with qualitative (narrative) information on the indicator.
10 Examples of good governance procedures: Clear documentation of governance procedures; Boards reviewing
performance on a regular basis; Diverse representation on Boards, and transparent selection procedures; Boards actively
engaged in providing overall strategic direction and leadership; Adoption of ethical code; Understanding of risk
assessments and risk management; Regularly consulting users, beneficiaries and other stakeholders in decision making and
activities.
11 Examples of good management procedures: Clear organisational structures with lines of accountability and
responsibilities defined; Understanding by designated managers of their role and responsibility in any decision-making
delegated to them by the Board; Effective internal communications systems, which ensure that all staff (paid and unpaid)
are regularly consulted about and informed of decisions and developments that affect their work; Policies and practices for
human resources development, which include recruitment procedures, training for staff (paid and unpaid), mentoring and
supervision and staff appraisal procedures.
12 Minimum standards could include: having a results framework that guides their work, with targets/outcomes and
indicators; they have persons assigned responsibility to track that data; that data on results is communicated to users,
beneficiaries and other constituencies. Standards or criteria need to be set for what constitutes an acceptable M&E system
and what represents adequate data collection and use.
13 ‘Regularly’ needs to be defined for each project.
5
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Indicative
Capacity
Outcomes
building and
sustainability of
the civil society
sector
Indicative Indicators9
Indicative sources
of information
Ratio of project grant to total revenue
Level 2:
Sectoral
capacity and
sustainability:
CSOs work
together within
the civil society
sector
A capable and
sustainable civil
society sector
Number of target CSOs with
fundraising plans in place14
Number of CSOs that are members of
civil society networks/coalitions
Number and type of joint
advocacy/campaigns conducted with
other network/coalition members
Survey and
monitoring
Survey
CSOs forge
partnerships
across sectors
(government,
private sector)
Level of satisfaction with
coalition/network relationships
Number of target CSOs that partner
with government institutions/public
agencies15
CSOs use research
inform policy
making
Project reports
Number of target CSOs that partner
with private sector16
Number and type of initiatives
implemented through cross-sectoral
partnerships
14
Survey and
research
Level of satisfaction of both parties
with the partnership
Number of CSOs that use research to
support their advocacy and policy
work
Project reports
Survey
Project reports
Plans need to be realistic in expectations for raising revenues in that environment. Plans should exist in writing, and staff
and volunteers should understand and support the plan.
15 Partnerships means: both formal partnership and informal collaboration
16 Partnerships means: both formal partnership and informal collaboration
6
Section 3: Indicative outcomes and indicators for Regional Civil Society Initiatives
Programme objective: Civil society and active citizenship strengthened and vulnerable groups
empowered
Regional
Civil
Society
Initiatives
Indicative
Outcomes
Indicative Indicators17
Indicative sources
of information
Strengthened
regional (crossborder)
cooperation in
the civil society
sector
Number and type of initiatives that are jointly
implemented by entities across borders
Internal records
Number of CSOs reporting improved
methods/approaches/cooperation as a result
of regional exchange
Survey
Survey
Type of improved
methods/approaches/strategies adopted as a
result of regional exchange
Survey/monitoring
Number of CSOs participating in cross-border
cooperation that develop joint policy
initiatives/methods
17
All quantitative indicators should be supplemented with qualitative (narrative) information on the indicator.
7