Project design matrix (PDM) worksheet

Enter the logical chain of overall goal → project purpose → outputs → activities vertically, and the corresponding indicators, means of verification and external conditions horizontally. Complete the problem and objective trees first.

When to use this worksheet and what completion involves Fictional completed example

EvalCompass Worksheet

Project design matrix (PDM) worksheet

Method: Logical Framework (Logframe / LFA)

Basic information

Enter an overview of the project

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Project name: Community counseling accompaniment program (fictional)
Target area and participants: Area A; 20 residents seeking counseling
Implementation period: April 2026–March 2027
Date prepared and prepared by: April 1, 2026 / counseling officer

Reason for this entry: The numbers and period define the scope of this fictional plan.

Project name

Target area and participants

Implementation period

Date prepared and prepared by

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Enter an overview of the project

The numbers and period define the scope of this fictional plan.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Follow each field’s heading to record the program name, focus, period, and other details. Leave undecided matters clearly marked as unresolved.

Read the full fictional example

Main PDM matrix

Complete each row and column (multiple activity rows are allowed)

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hierarchy of objectives	Indicators (OVI)	Means of verification for indicators	External conditions (assumptions)
Overall goal: improved access to needed support	Proportion of people able to use support for their difficulties	Follow-up records based on consent	The relevant scheme continues
Project purpose: residents who wish to apply proceed with applications	Number of the 20 interested residents who proceed with applications	Counseling and application status records	A service meeting scheme requirements is available
Output: counseling and accompaniment provided	20 first-time counseling users; accompaniment sessions for those requesting them	Implementation records with duplicates removed	The individual wishes to participate
Activities: counselor training and accompaniment coordination	2 training sessions and staff assignments	Training records and rosters	Counselors are available to participate

Reason for this entry: Use different verification sources for different objective levels.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hierarchy of objectives	Indicators (OVI)	Means of verification for indicators	External conditions (assumptions)

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Complete each row and column (multiple activity rows are allowed)

Use different verification sources for different objective levels.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Assumption notes (additional details on major risks)

Describe high-risk external conditions and responses

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

External conditions	Likelihood (high / medium / low)	Risk responses
The service has sufficient intake capacity	Medium (team hypothesis)	Check booking availability before starting and identify alternative services

Reason for this entry: Do not present estimated risk levels as observed values; determine what actions will verify them.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

External conditions	Likelihood (high / medium / low)	Risk responses

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Describe high-risk external conditions and responses

Do not present estimated risk levels as observed values; determine what actions will verify them.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Vertical logic check

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

☑ Checked: If activities are implemented (and external conditions hold), outputs will be achieved
☑ Checked: If outputs are achieved (and external conditions hold), the project purpose will be achieved
☑ Checked: If the project purpose is achieved (and external conditions hold), it will contribute to the overall goal
☐ Not checked: Each indicator meets SMART criteria
☑ Checked: Means of verification are recorded for every indicator

Reason for this entry: Some indicator deadlines and target levels remain undecided. Agree on them with stakeholders before use.

If activities are implemented (and external conditions hold), outputs will be achieved
If outputs are achieved (and external conditions hold), the project purpose will be achieved
If the project purpose is achieved (and external conditions hold), it will contribute to the overall goal
Each indicator meets SMART criteria
Means of verification are recorded for every indicator

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Some indicator deadlines and target levels remain undecided. Agree on them with stakeholders before use.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Read each item and check those you have confirmed. Do not use the fictional example’s checkbox states as findings about your own program.

Read the full fictional example

Before writing, check when to use the worksheet and what completion involves

Project design matrix (PDM) worksheet is a worksheet for applying Logical Framework (Logframe / LFA) in meetings or individual work. For the overall duration of the method, use “Illustrative estimate (adjust for scale and staffing): 1–3 days (PDM development workshop)” as a reference, adjusting for scale and resources. Fill in what you know provisionally and leave unresolved matters as questions to check next.

When this worksheet is useful

Throughout planning, consensus building, monitoring and evaluation of ODA and international development projects
When a recipient organization requires a logframe or PDM. Check its specific format and definitions before use.
Agreeing on a shared hierarchy of objectives in projects involving multiple donors or implementing agencies

Participants and preparation

Program officers, evaluation officers and key stakeholders. Include people who can verify the plan’s assumptions.

Bring the materials used for decisions, existing data, and differing stakeholder views to help complete the worksheet.

Suggested order

1. Basic informationEnter an overview of the project
2. Main PDM matrixComplete each row and column (multiple activity rows are allowed)
3. Assumption notes (additional details on major risks)Describe high-risk external conditions and responses
4. Vertical logic check

Signs the worksheet is ready for review

Project design matrix (PDM)
Problem and objective trees
Plan of operations (PO)

Cautions for review

Confusing the project purpose with the overall goal: the purpose is the situation the project should achieve; the overall goal is the broader objective beyond it
Using only counts of activities as indicators, without measuring changes for participants (outcomes)
Avoiding real risks by listing external conditions that are too obvious, such as “no war,” or too optimistic, such as “strong government commitment”

Read a completed fictional example (your entries will not change)

Fictional example; not actual results

The following fictional example illustrates the design of a 1-year community project combining counselor training and counseling accompaniment.

Basic information

Project name: Community counseling accompaniment program (fictional)
Target area and participants: Area A; 20 residents seeking counseling
Implementation period: April 2026–March 2027
Date prepared and prepared by: April 1, 2026 / counseling officer

Reason for this entry: The numbers and period define the scope of this fictional plan.

Main PDM matrix

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Hierarchy of objectives	Indicators (OVI)	Means of verification for indicators	External conditions (assumptions)
Overall goal: improved access to needed support	Proportion of people able to use support for their difficulties	Follow-up records based on consent	The relevant scheme continues
Project purpose: residents who wish to apply proceed with applications	Number of the 20 interested residents who proceed with applications	Counseling and application status records	A service meeting scheme requirements is available
Output: counseling and accompaniment provided	20 first-time counseling users; accompaniment sessions for those requesting them	Implementation records with duplicates removed	The individual wishes to participate
Activities: counselor training and accompaniment coordination	2 training sessions and staff assignments	Training records and rosters	Counselors are available to participate

Reason for this entry: Use different verification sources for different objective levels.

Assumption notes (additional details on major risks)

Scroll horizontally to view the table

External conditions	Likelihood (high / medium / low)	Risk responses
The service has sufficient intake capacity	Medium (team hypothesis)	Check booking availability before starting and identify alternative services

Reason for this entry: Do not present estimated risk levels as observed values; determine what actions will verify them.

Vertical logic check

☑ Checked: If activities are implemented (and external conditions hold), outputs will be achieved
☑ Checked: If outputs are achieved (and external conditions hold), the project purpose will be achieved
☑ Checked: If the project purpose is achieved (and external conditions hold), it will contribute to the overall goal
☐ Not checked: Each indicator meets SMART criteria
☑ Checked: Means of verification are recorded for every indicator

Reason for this entry: Some indicator deadlines and target levels remain undecided. Agree on them with stakeholders before use.

Common errors in judgment

Writing “staff make an effort” as an external condition

How to revise: Place staffing in activities or inputs, and service intake conditions under external conditions

Reason: This distinguishes actions under management control from external influences.

Imposing the same 4-row, 4-column format on every program

How to revise: Check the commissioning organization’s format and specify outcome levels and definitions

Reason: Logframes have multiple formats.

Editorial and checking information

Content updated: 2026-09-13Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)No documented human reviewIncludes fictional examplesEditorial policy and scope of checking Cite this page Report a correction

References and checked sections

Logframe
BetterEvaluation
Section consulted
Main text; Advice for using this method
How it relates to the text
Logframe formats vary by organization; there is no single universally fixed template.
Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)

How to cite this page

EvalCompass Editorial Team. “Project design matrix (PDM) worksheet”. EvalCompass, updated 2026-09-13. https://evalcompass.jun-nakatani.com/en/worksheets/logical-framework/

Add the date you accessed the page. Text created by this site is available under CC BY 4.0. Quotations, external materials, and bundled fonts have their own terms of use. When reusing content, credit the source, link to the license, and indicate any changes.

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Change history

2026-09-13 — Updated explanations to correspond to the sources and added method-specific fictional completed examples, judgment examples and a change log.