Project objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Setting SMART project objectives mean you need to have a clear set of a project plan and focus all your resources productively to achieve it within a set time frame.
Specific: Is there a clear action and expected result for the objective?
Measurable: Can the objective be described with numbers for monitoring and evaluation?
Achievable: Is it possible to meet the objective with the time and resources available?
Relevant: Is the objective in line with the goal?
Time-bound: Is there a deadline?
NOT SMART Example: Help women farmers gain income.
SMART Example: Increase by 15% the income level of 100 women farmers in Hilly districts over one year.
NOT SMART Example: Provide health care service to women and Children.
SMART Example: By the end of the project, increase the number of women and children with access to a healthcare worker from 15% to 45%.
Tips for SMART Objectives
- Think about what success means for the project and how to show that success.
- Refer to the results expected from the project.
- Describe the focus population and the desired change among the population.
- Include the location and time period for each objective.
- Reflect the intended changes in systemic conditions or behaviors that must be achieved to accomplish the goal/strategic objective.
- Objectives should have measurable indicators which show what, when and how conditions, behaviors, and practices will change.
- Objectives must be verifiable at some point during the execution of the project.
Ensuring that the objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound will allow for much easier planning and evaluating once the project is implemented.