1. Objective Tree I want to design a project
by identifying the solutions it will provide to problems
Objective Tree

2. What is it and why should I use it?
An objective tree is a great tool to help you consider different perspectives and define different routes to solve your problem.
This tool helps you to define where and where not to intervene.

3. Remember the problem tree?

4. How to build an Objective Tree
Turn the core problem from your problem tree into a positive statement – e.g ‘water quality is deteriorating’ might become, ‘water quality is improving’
The direct effects of the positive situation become the branches and leaves.
The roots now become the causes of this positive situation – what are the causes of ‘water quality is improving’. These should be possible interventions
Direct Effect
Direct Effect
Water borne disease reduced
Positive statement
Quantity of waste is reduced
Cause
There are several reasons why problem analysis is especially important in the context of development projects, it helps identify: key problems, constraints & opportunities; and the cause & effect relationships. The problem tree is one of the most widely used tools by international developmental organizations to conduct problem analysis. It provides a simple, yet robust version of reality which helps key stakeholders identify not just the core problem, but their effects – as well as the underlying issues and root causes that contribute to the current state. Begin with a ‘starter problem’ that can be either identified via an open brainstorm process with stakeholders or pre-identified, based on preliminary analysis of existing information. Once the starter problem is identified, (preferably all problem tree steps should be done via a participatory group process) then problems which are directly causing the starter problem are put below (called causes) and problems which are direct effects of the starter problem are put above (called effects). Note that if two or more causes combine to form an effect, place them on the same level of the diagram. As you can observe on the slide, sometimes a cause will have a sub-cause – creating a chain of causality. The branches of the tree may also show more than a single layer of effects.   The guiding question behind the logic of the problem tree is ‘What causes that?’ This is a form of logic called: cause and effect, that reads like this: “if this happens …. then that will happen”.
Population more aware of risks
Public education programs set up

5. Example of an Objective Tree
Explain that once a problem tree is completed, the next step is to develop an objectives tree (ask them if anyone has done this before and if they would like to explain how they did it).
Make sure that the below is covered in the explanations/discussion or by you
If you were using an asset-based approach, you would be identifying what future interventions could ‘build’ upon existing strengths and capacities at this stage.
In its simplest form, the objectives tree is a mirror image of the problem tree – where each statement in the problem tree is transformed into a positive objective statement.
Now ask a volunteer from each group to go up to their problem tree and convert one problem statement into a solution/objective statement.

6. Activity:
Take your problem tree and turn it into an objective tree.