Rapid, rigorous cost-efficiency analysis

Standardized output and cost-efficiency metrics

A shared standard for comparable cost-efficiency

To keep results comparable, Dioptra uses a standard set of output measures and cost-efficiency metrics agreed across the consortium's member organizations, drawing on established sectoral practice, for over 40 activities. For each activity, the required output measures are built into Dioptra so these metrics can be calculated consistently. The table below lists each activity with the output measures collected and the cost-efficiency metrics they produce.

ActivityDescriptionOutput measure(s)Optional output(s)Cost-efficiency metricOptional cost-efficiency metric
Agricultural Productivity
Agricultural Training and InputsSupport to farmers with training, seedlings, fertilizer, livestock, equipment, infrastructure, demo plots, value chains, value addition, etc., to improve agricultural productivity. Farmers can be reached through mechanisms like producer groups, savings groups, or Farmer Field Schools.Number of PeopleNumber of Days of TrainingCost per PersonCost per Person per Day of Training
Land RestorationSupport to farmers with training, seedlings, fertilizer, equipment, infrastructure, demo plots, value chains, etc., to restore land and ecosystems through approaches such as Agroforestry, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), tree planting, soil and water conservation, etc.Number of PeopleNumber of HectaresCost per PersonCost per Hectare
Basic Needs
Cash For WorkProvision of cash to individuals, based on the number of days worked on a predefined community activity.Number of HouseholdsCost per Household
Conditional Cash TransferProvision of cash to households in need through physical or electronic cash or vouchers, with conditions that must be met before receiving a transfer.Number of HouseholdsCost per Household
Food AssistanceProvision of safe and nutritious food commodities to households in need; or financing to support procurement and distribution of food.Value of Items DistributedNumber of HouseholdsCost per Monetary Unit DistributedCost per Household
Non-Food-Item (NFI) DistributionDistribution of non-food items to households depending on the need and context, e.g. blankets, cooking stoves, fuel, tents, mosquito nets, clothes, buckets, soap, brushes, etc.Value of Items DistributedNumber of HouseholdsCost per Monetary Unit DistributedCost per Household
Unconditional Cash TransferProvision of cash to households in need through physical or electronic cash or vouchers, without conditions that must be met before receiving a transfer.Value of Cash DistributedNumber of HouseholdsCost per Cash DistributedCost per Household
Cash Plus ProgramUnconditional or conditional cash transfers combined with other complementary forms of assistance such as training, livelihood assistance, behavior change communications, insurance, or health services to address a wider range of needs.Number of HouseholdsValue of Cash DistributedCost per HouseholdCost per Cash Distributed
Education
Accelerated Education ProgramProvision of basic education over an accelerated timeframe for out-of-school children and youth at formal or non-formal learning centers.Number of ChildrenCost per Child
Early Childhood DevelopmentSupport to develop the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical potential of babies and young pre-school children in need through safe spaces, play and learn activities, training caregivers and frontline workers to provide nurturing environments, counselling caregivers to bolster their own well-being, etc.Number of ChildrenNumber of CaregiversCost per ChildCost per Caregiver
Life Skills Curriculum and TrainingProvision of life skills curriculum and training to improve the protection and empowerment of program participants, including safe spaces, learning sessions, mentors and facilitators, caregiver and community engagement.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Remedial and Catch-Up ProgramProvision of short-term education support to complement regular formal education for children and youth who are in-school, or to support re-entry to the formal education system for children and youth who had been actively attending school before a recent educational disruption.Number of ChildrenCost per Child
School Feeding ProgramProvision of meals and other services for children in schools and/or take-home rations to improve enrollment, attendance, attention span, and literacy.Number of ChildrenNumber of MealsCost per ChildCost per Meal
Teacher Professional DevelopmentProvision of school-based facilitated forums for teachers to meet regularly to revisit content learned in a training workshop and to gain ongoing learning opportunities through peer discussions, including peer groups, learning circles, mentoring, coaching.1. Number of Teachers
2. Number of Years of Support
Cost per Teacher per Year of Support
Teacher TrainingProvision of training for teachers and school management committees on topics such as pedagogy, classroom management, etc.1. Number of Teachers
2. Number of Days of Training
Cost per Teacher per Day of Training
General
General ProgramGeneral program to provide intended outcomes for the benefit of people in need.Number of OutputsCost per Output
Governance
Community Accountability ProgramProvision of social accountability programs to improve community leadership and governance.Number of CommunitiesNumber of PeopleCost per CommunityCost per Person
Health (Mental)
Mental Health and Psychosocial SupportProvision of services that support psychosocial well-being and address mental health issues.Number of ConsultationsNumber of PeopleCost per ConsultationCost per Person
Health (Primary)
Immunization ServicesProvision of vaccines to people and children in need, including cold-chain storage and transport, demand generation, health worker training, and service provision.Number of DosesNumber of PeopleCost per DoseCost per Person
Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM)Diagnosis, treatment, and referral of common childhood illnesses (e.g., pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria) through community health workers.Number of ConsultationsNumber of ChildrenCost per ConsultationCost per Child
Non-Communicable Diseases CarePrevention and control of non-communicable diseases.Number of ConsultationsNumber of PeopleCost per ConsultationCost per Person
Primary Health Care ServicesProvision of primary health care services to prevent mortality, morbidity, and disability.Number of ConsultationsNumber of PeopleCost per ConsultationCost per Person
Health (Sexual Reproductive)
Family Planning ServicesProvision of family planning and birth spacing services to prevent unintended pregnancy, including demand generation, health worker training, counseling, service provision, commodities supply, and self-managed contraception.Number of Couple-Years of Protection (CYPs)Number of PeopleCost per Couple per Year of ProtectionCost per Person
Maternal Health ServicesProvision and sensitization of obstetrics and gynecology services at health institutions for expecting mothers, including pre-natal and post-natal care.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Safe Abortion CareProvision of safe abortion care (SAC) services, including comprehensive abortion care (CAC), post abortion care (PAC), and self-managed abortion care.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Income Generation
Apprenticeship and On-The-Job TrainingProvision of apprenticeships and internships for people to gain relevant on-the-job training and hands-on experience through placements in private sector companies.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Business Grants and MentorshipSupporting entrepreneurs to develop viable business plans and create new microenterprises or grow existing microenterprises through cash grants and mentorship.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Business Skills TrainingEntrepreneurship skills training in marketing, accounting, business plan development, etc.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Employment Skills TrainingEmployment skills training in CV writing, job hunting, interview skills, etc.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Graduation ProgramA holistic approach to tackle simultaneously the interrelated challenges faced by the poorest with a set of services over several years, including access to saving services, intensive mentoring, technical skills training, and the grant of a productive asset and/or seed capital.Number of HouseholdsCost per Household
Savings GroupsCreating and supporting savings groups such as Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), Youth Savings and Loans Associations (YSLA), Urban Savings and Loans Associations (USLA), Self Help Groups (SHG).Number of GroupsNumber of PeopleCost per GroupCost per Person
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)Provision of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses to train participants in various technical and vocational skills.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Nutrition
Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)Training and support to caregivers and health workers on safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding practices to improve the nutritional status and survival of children under two years of age, including breastfeeding, correct use of adequate complementary foods, Mother and Baby Friendly Spaces, community awareness, etc.Number of CaregiversNumber of ChildrenCost per CaregiverCost per Child
Malnutrition TreatmentTreatment for moderate and severe acute malnutrition among children.Number of Children Treated (Excluding Defaulters)Number of Children RecoveredCost per Child TreatedCost per Child Recovered
Malnutrition PreventionPrevention of moderate and severe acute malnutrition among children.Number of CaregiversNumber of ChildrenCost per CaregiverCost per Child
Protection
Child Friendly Safe Spaces and LearningProvision of safe spaces for children to access free and structured play, recreation, leisure and learning activities; these spaces may provide health, nutrition and psychosocial support and other activities that restore a sense of normality and continuity.Number of ChildrenCost per Child
Child Protection Case ManagementProvision of case management services for children who are unaccompanied minors or at risk of trafficking and exploitation.Number of ChildrenCost per Child
GBV Case ManagementProvision of essential health and psychosocial services to survivors of gender-based violence.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Legal Aid Case ManagementProvision of legal case management services on government documentation, access to social services, illegal detention, asylum, etc.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Parenting Skills ProgramProvision of parenting skills and coaching to strengthen the capacities of caregivers to reduce violence in the lives of children and support their healthy development by introducing techniques parents can use to communicate and problem solve effectively with their children.Number of HouseholdsCost per Household
Protection Case ManagementGeneral protection case management for vulnerable people.Number of PeopleCost per Person
Women and Girls' Safe SpacesProvision of a structured place where women’s and adolescent girls’ physical and emotional safety is respected and where women and adolescent girls are supported through processes of empowerment to seek, share, and obtain information, access services, express themselves, enhance psychosocial well-being, and more fully realize their rights.Number of PeopleCost per Person
WASH
Access to Clean WaterProvision of sufficient quantity of safe water to meet the drinking and domestic needs of people in need, including support for construction or rehabilitation of taps, hand pumps, wells, or water trucking, with corresponding hygiene promotion.1. Number of People
2. Number of Years of Water Access
Cost per Person per Year of Water Access
Access to SanitationSupport for construction or rehabilitation of adequate, appropriate and acceptable latrines and other sanitation facilities to allow rapid, safe and secure access at all times, with corresponding hygiene promotion.1. Number of People
2. Number of Years a Latrine can Last
Cost per Person per Year of Sanitation Access