Causal Pathway Framework: What is the Causal Pathway Framework?

In this guide, we describe a planning framework that can be helpful in the design (and, as we will see, also in the monitoring and evaluation) process. We will refer to this framework as the CAUSAL PATHWAY FRAMEWORK.

• "CAUSAL" because it is based on the premise that the activities you carry out should logically cause desirable results to occur;
• "PATHWAY" because it is based on the idea that the causal links form a technically and programmatically sound logical progression.

This framework may not be very different from the way you already think about planning programs, or you may already be using a tool or process that you find helpful. Thats fine. In such cases, this guide may serve as a reminder for what you already know; in others, it may be a new way of thinking about good programs.

The Causal Pathway Framework document is broken up into several sections:

• Program Planning: What is it and why is it important?
• How do we plan effective projects?
• Using the Causal Pathway to design projects
• Using the Causal Pathway to monitor and evaluate projects
• Setting project objectives