Start with the change you expect
Describe the pathway from activities to outputs and outcomes. Identify the assumptions that connect each step. This theory of change is a working explanation to test, not evidence that the programme caused an outcome.
Define fewer, better indicators
Each indicator needs a definition, numerator, denominator where relevant, source, frequency, disaggregation and responsible person. Record baseline dates and missing data. A dashboard should reveal uncertainty as well as progress.
Choose a design that supports the claim
A before-and-after comparison alone does not isolate programme effects from other changes. Select a comparison strategy or contribution approach that matches feasibility and the questions being asked. State what the design can and cannot establish.
Close the learning loop
Schedule review sessions that turn findings into decisions. Track who will act, by when, and what will be checked next. Public data can contextualise local findings, but community-level conclusions need an appropriate evidence base.
Sources & scope
Official background sources accessed for this guide. Recommendations are Ara’s editorial synthesis, not statements issued by these institutions.
Ghana Statistical Service — GSS StatsBankGhana Health Service — Research ethics submissionsPublished 7 October 2026. Guidance is general; confirm current and project-specific requirements before acting.