The Logical Framework is a set of logical cause-effect hypotheses7, of the type “if A happens, then this causes B”.
These logical relationships are in terms of necessity and sufficiency. The logical relationship of necessity occurs when cause A must be present for effect B to occur.
This can logically be posed in the reverse direction: B cannot occur if A does not occur first-
EXAMPLE: Light switch
Usually, there are several necessary conditions that are concurrent; that is, they must occur simultaneously for the effect to occur.
Sufficiency occurs when, given cause A, effect B cannot fail to occur.
Obviously, the negation of any necessary condition for a positive effect is a sufficient condition for the reverse effect.
The previous elementary concepts allow us to introduce a somewhat more elaborate one: that of a sufficient set.
We say that a set of necessary causes is sufficient to obtain an effect, when given that set of conditions, it is inevitable that the effect will be achieved.
In other words, no more necessary cause is missing.
The brief foray into logical relationships is extremely useful for formulating programs.
Precisely, the Logical Framework methodology consists of making explicit the logical conditions that frame the solution of a problem (Vertical Logic) as behavioral hypotheses, and incorporating indicators about the real behavior, to verify (monitor) that these hypotheses are correct (Logic Horizontal).
HOPE
In this town, which has neither potable water nor sewerage, there is morbidity from infectious diseases that exceeds the ranges considered normal.
The possibility of mass vaccination of the child population is raised.
But at the same time, sustainable solutions are being sought for the medium term.
When approaching this problem-situation based on a logical analysis, a simple approach is to formulate the hypothesis: "If we vaccinate children of that age, then, ceteris paribus, the rate of infectious diseases in this population should decrease."
In this case, what we are proposing, in the logical scheme, is that there is a causal relationship of sufficiency: If A (vaccinate) is fulfilled, then B (low morbidity) must occur.
But there are times when this hypothesis of sufficiency is not effective, as some diseases may have a more complex causal picture; Such would be the case that an infectious disease caused by some agent occurs in that population, which is reproduced in the absence of drinking water and the lack of sewage.
In this case, the causal relationships are concurrent and the corresponding logical hypotheses are more complex: “If the children are vaccinated (condition a) and the water is made drinkable
(condition b) and the excreta is treated (condition c), then, the rate of infectious diseases in the population (effect) must be lowered ”.
What we have as a logical approach is the hypothesis that the conditions a + b + c form a sufficient set for the effect we seek. That is what we call Logic
Formulation vertical.
COMPLETE LOGICAL FORMULATION
(HYPOTHESIS) OF THE PROBLEM SOLUTION
These causal relationships, of only logical order, can be easily added to say that the population has a problem that is solved when all the conditions that have been specified are met.
But, to put into practice and formulate a plan of action that effectively solves the problem, we usually find that, apart from the framework of logical relationships, there is an institutional framework. In other words, in the example, the institutions that deal with vaccination do not make water drinkable or install excreta treatment plants.
In the logical-institutional framework the sum of causal relationships is not simple. It would read something like: "If the Preventive Health Service vaccinates children and the Water Company makes the water drinkable and the Municipality installs the sewerage, then the rate of infectious diseases will drop." In order to manage these logical + institutional relationships, a more operational instrument is created than the simple Logical Framework: the Logical Framework Matrix, in which, apart from the logical-institutional relationships, indicators are introduced to inform the progress and achievements of the program, once in execution.
A Logical Framework Matrix (MML) collects the relationships and hypotheses of the Logical Framework, but orders them from a particular institutional point of view of only one of the institutions participating in the solution.
This implies that for the same Logical Framework, as many Logical Framework Matrices are derived as institutions participate in the solution.
To do this, the necessary conditions identified to solve a population problem are divided into two subsets:
- i) the conditions in charge of that institution that owns the Parent Company; and ii) the rest of the conditions, which are under the responsibility of other institutions.
For example, if one looks from the point of view of the Preventive Health Service, it would read: “If I vaccinate children, it would lower the rate of infectious diseases, as long as the Water Company makes the water and
Municipality solve the sewer problem
The same proposition could be seen from the point of view of the Water Company: “If I make the water drinkable, it would lower the rate of infectious diseases, under the assumption that the Health Service vaccinates children and that the Municipality solves the sewerage ”. Idem for the Municipality.
Consequently, the MML differs from the Logical Framework in that it highlights that the success of the cause-effect relationships that depend on an institution is conditioned to the simultaneous fulfillment of other concurrent conditions that do not depend directly on it. To formalize the concept, each condition must be necessary and the set of conditions must be sufficient.
An element that is decisive in differentiating between the Logical Framework of the initial analysis and the MML that corresponds to the action plan is that the logical conditions in charge of the responsible institution cease to be hypotheses and are transformed into concrete products (goods and services) that the program delivers to the population: they are called Components.
Instead, the necessary conditions whose fulfillment was left to the responsibility of other institutions remain as behavioral hypotheses, under the name of Assumptions.
The following tables show, for the example of Villa Esperanza, the Logical Framework and the Vertical Logic of the three Matrices of Institutional Indicators that are derived from the logical-institutional analysis:
From logical categories to the Logical Framework Matrix
The relationships in the table above can best be presented in terms of the Logical Framework Matrices, as shown in Table below
VERTICAL LOGIC OF THE MATRICES OF
INDICATORS CORRESPONDING TO THE SAME LOGICAL FRAMEWORK
From logical categories to the Logical Framework Matrix
It is worth mentioning that an alternative to the situation presented above is multi-institutional projects or programs.
That is, programs in which several institutions contribute to the achievement of the objectives jointly, each assuming at least one component, under the coordination of an office created for this purpose.
In this case a single MML can be used for all participating institutions.
Formalization of Vertical Logic
The previous assumptions correspond to logical conditions that the program does not meet within the institutional framework of the person who has been designated responsible, but they are complementary goods or services, generated by other institutions, but equally necessary for the solution of the problem and the achievement of the
End.
It is usual, then, that these assumptions can refer to any of the categories of vertical reading.
So now in vertical reading, two different columns will be needed for each category:
- i) that which corresponds to what is under the institutional scope of the responsible entity; and ii) that which corresponds to the responsibility of third parties, which are beyond what corresponds to the responsible institution.
In this matrix form, the logical reading occurs alternately from one column to another, as follows:
- If the Responsible Institution executes the planned Activities and the respective Assumptions are met, then the Components are achieved If the Components are obtained and the respective Assumptions are met, then the Purpose is achieved If the Purpose is achieved and the respective Assumptions are met, then the It will effectively contribute to reaching the End If the program made the expected contribution and the assumptions at the End level are met, the positive impacts generated by the project or program will be maintained over time.
Formalization of Vertical Logic
Presented graphically, Vertical Logic follows the path indicated in the following diagram
READING THE VERTICAL LOGIC OF THE LOGIC MATRIX
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