The '''Logical Framework Approach''' (LFA) is a management tool mainly used in the design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. The LFA method was developed by Leon J. Rosenberg, under contract to USAID in 1969. Practical Concepts Incorporated, a firm founded by Rosenberg, then extended use of LFA to 35 countries. LFA is widely used by bilateral and multilateral donor organizations like [[Gesellschaft Fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit|GTZ]], [[Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency|SIDA]], [[Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation|NORAD]], [[DFID]], [[UNDP]] and [[European Commission|EC]]. It has also been widely adopted by NGOs, though not without reservations and concerns by some. In the 1990's it was often mandatory for aid organisations to use the LFA in their project proposals but its use in recent years has become more optional.
The Logical Framework takes the form of a four x four project table. The four rows are used to d''escribedescribe four different types of events that take place as a project is implemented: the project ''Activities'', ''Outputs'', ''Purpose'' and ''Goal'' (from bottom to top on the left hand site - see EC web site as under external links). The four columns provide different types of information about the events in each row. The first column is used to provide a ''Narrative'' description of the event. The second column lists one or more ''Objectively Verifiable Indicators'' (OVIs)of these events taking place. The third column describes the ''Means of Verification'' (MoV)where information will be available on the OVIs, and the fourth column lists the ''Assumptions''. Assumptions are external factors that it is believed could influence (positively or negatively) the events described in the narrative column. The list of assumptions should include those factors that potentially impact on the success of the project, but which cannot be directly controlled by the project or program managers. In some cases these may include what could be ''killer assumptions'', which if proved wrong will have major negative consequences for the project. A good project design should be able to substantiate its assumptions, especially those with a high potential to have a negative impact.
The core of the Logical Framework is the "temporal logic model" that runs through the matrix. This takes the form of a series of connected propositions:
