Step-by-step guide to creating an Indicator Tracking Table (ITT)
With an Indicator Tracking Table (ITT), M&E professionals can consolidate, monitor and report on key metrics of their programme or project in a structured way that makes progress assessment much easier.
Take a look at an example of an Indicator Tracking table for an Education project:
| Indicator Name | Definition / Description | Unit of Measurement | Baseline | Target (Year-End) | Actual Achievement | Variance / Gap | Data Source | Frequency of Reporting | Responsible Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment Rate | Percentage of eligible children enrolled in school | % | 75 | 90 | 85 | -5 | School Enrollment Records | Quarterly | M&E Officer |
| Student Literacy Improvement | Percentage of students achieving grade-level literacy | % | 60 | 80 | 70 | -10 | End-of-Year Literacy Assessment | Annual | Program Coordinator |
An Indicator Tracking Table provides a snapshot of performance and allows you to identify early enough areas of attention. Here are the key steps for creating its structure:
Step 1: Define the indicators: These should align with the program goals, the logical or results framework. Include:
- Indicator name
- Indicator type (outcome, outcome, impact)
- Unit of measurement (number, percentage, ration, etc.)
- Data source(s)
- Frequency of collection (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.)
Step 2: Set targets and benchmarks, include the baseline: This will allow you to measure progress easily. Include:
- Baseline values: Read more in our article “The role of baseline data in indicator tracking and how to set it properly”
- Target values: excepted achievement at a specific time
- Benchmarks: optional for multi-year projects
Step 3: Design the table structure and start populating it: Make sure to verify sources, double-check calculations and maintain consistent units and definitions.
Step 4: Update and consult regularly and at key moments: Consider the table a living document that should be updated according to the data collection schedule and should feed into the broader M&E processes. Use it as a strategic resource to help you identify trends and performance gaps and include it in meetings with key stakeholders to help drive decision-making.
Take a look at an example of an Indicator Tracking Table for a Conservation project:
| Indicator Name | Definition / Description | Unit of Measurement | Baseline | Target (Year-End) | Actual Achievement | Variance / Gap | Data Source | Frequency of Reporting | Responsible Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reforestation Coverage | Hectares of degraded land reforested | ha | 150 | 300 | 250 | -50 | Field Surveys & Satellite Imagery | Quarterly | M&E Officer |
| Wildlife Population Recovery | Number of monitored endangered species observed | Number | 120 | 200 | 180 | -20 | Wildlife Camera Traps & Surveys | Annual | Conservation Specialist |
Indicator Tracking Tables in ActivityInfo
Did you know you can design an Indicator Tracking Table both for primary and for secondary data in ActivityInfo?
Depending on the structure of your program, projects and organization (centralized/decentralized) but also the capacity of your M&E teams you have various options. For example, you can create an Indicator Tracking Table using the Report designer to automatically calculate key numbers based on the primary data collected in the forms of different projects. Explore this simple tutorial for more information.
Alternatively, when working with secondary data, you can choose to ask country offices/projects to manually update their Indicator Tracking Table on a monthly/quarterly basis which can then inform a higher level tracking Table (e.g. global/HQ, etc.) in the form of a Report.
If you would like to learn more about how ActivityInfo can support the indicator tracking activities for your organization, don’t hesitate to book a call with us.