The Global Europe Results Framework (GERF)

Step 1: Develop a results chain 

Before selecting indicators you need to develop your intervention logic and results chain (outputs, outcomes, impact), based on your needs analysis, taking into account the specific context of your intervention as well as EU priorities. 

Consult in this process the sector-specific results chains , which outline what EU interventions aim to achieve in your thematic area. 

At your disposal for overall guidance are also the Results and indicators methodological guidance, the Intervention Cycle Management (ICM) Wiki and the Checklist for assessing the quality of the Logframe Matrix.

 Step 2: Select GERF-indicators

You should always first check if there are GERF indicators (see list below) that are relevant. Use Level 2 indicators - these measure your outputs/outcomes and are required for OPSYS reporting. Use the methodological notes to help you decide whether an indicator is suitable for your intervention and how to apply it correctly. 

✅ GERF indicators: are for legal reporting. They must be used when relevant.

🛑 GERF Level 3 are not for logframes. They are for policy mainstreaming. Use Level 2 GERF indicators or other predefined indicators (step 3 and 4). 

Step 3: Select other indicators for cross-cutting priorities

Select other pre-defined indicators as relevant, for measuring cross-cutting priorities especially from the Gender Action Plan (GAP III) if your action contributes to gender equality. For GAP III there are methodological notes to help you decide whether an indicator is suitable for your intervention and how to apply it correctly. 

✅ Other predefined indicators: Strongly recommended where relevant for measuring cross-cutting priorities. 

Step 4: Select sector/thematic indicators

If your project has a thematic focus (e.g. climate or education), consult or search the list of predefined indicators in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (OPSYS) and select the relevant sector- or theme-specific indicators.

✅ Sector/thematic indicators: strongly recommended where relevant. 

Step 5: Develop customised indicators

Add customised indicators, as necessary, to measure your intervention’s results. 

Customised indicators:  the use of customised indicators is recommended only when none of the existing predefined indicators serve the monitoring purposes of the intervention. This results in no contribution to EU global results and less visibility for the intervention, the EU, and the Implementing Partners. 

Step 6: Encode the indicators

Once you have identified the indicators to be used in your logframe and the contract has been signed, you need to encode them in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (OPSYS). The Results and Monitoring Wiki provides step-by-step guidance on how to encode both logframes and the corresponding results throughout the implementation of the action.

🛑 Do not replace predefined indicators with customised indicators when encoding.