Program identification 

After identifying the problems or concerns and their causes, we can start to develop possible objectives for our project or programme.  These can be thought of as positive statements about what the situation would look like if the problems were overcome.  This will help us to consider opportunities, constraints and possible strategies.

When thinking through possible objectives, we should consider :

• To what extent does the objective respond to the problems identified by beneficiaries?

• Are we clear about the assumptions we are making about cause and effect when we link objectives with problems?

• Do we have a good understanding of the relationship between what we are trying to achieve and how we will achieve it?

• Is this objective realistic?  Will be achievable within the scope of this intervention?

• Will the impact of this objective reach the poorest of the poor? Does it take into account the differences of vulnerability within different groups (such as women, children, people living with HIV/AIDS or the disabled)? 

• Will the benefits be sustainable?  Are they likely to last beyond the life of the project or programme?

One way of doing this is to create an objective tree by returning to our problem tree, and turning the problems we listed into positive statements.