Activities, Outputs, and Metrics 

Cost Analysis in Dioptra 

Since cost analysis helps us learn by comparing across programs, the analysis should be
focused at the level of activity (i.e. intervention) that is comparable across different programs.
Dioptra will ask the user to analyze one particular activity (i.e. intervention) at a time—such as
latrine construction, GBV case management, or teacher professional development. In addition
to defining the activity clearly enough to ensure that it is comparable across programs, the
outputs of that activity should also be counted the same way, such that the cost analysis results
(i.e. cost-efficiency metrics) are also measured the same way.

For each analysis, Dioptra provides a list of 23 activities to select from (Table 1), including a
“Generic Activity” which can be used for any activity that is not listed here. Once the user selects
the appropriate activity to analyze, Dioptra will automatically ask the user to enter the
corresponding outputs. This will ensure that the resulting cost-efficiency metric for that activity is
consistently measured in Dioptra.

Example: If you choose the ​Access to Latrines​ activity, Dioptra will prompt you to enter the
number of outputs delivered specific to that activity, i.e. ​number of people served​ and ​number
of years each latrine can last​. The resulting cost-efficiency metric from the analysis will be the
cost per person per year of latrine access​, which can be compared across programs.

The list in Table 1 is not set in stone—it represents current sectoral consensus of specific
activities and their corresponding outputs and cost-efficiency metrics. If you have any feedback
or would like to contribute to this list, please contact ​airbel@rescue.org​.
Table 1: List of activities, outputs, and metrics in Dioptra.
Activity Activity Description Activity Output Cost-Efficiency
Metric
Access to Clean Provision of sufficient quantity of safe Number of Cost per Person
Water water to meet the drinking and Person-Years of per Year of Water
domestic needs of people in need. Water Access Access
(i.e. number of people
served * number of
years water was
provided)
Access to Latrines Provision of adequate, appropriate and Number of Cost per Person
acceptable latrines to allow rapid, safe Person-Years of per Year of
and secure access at all times. Latrine Access Latrine Access
(i.e. number of people
served * number of
years a latrine can
last)
Agricultural Provision of agricultural inputs, assets, Number of Cost per
Extension Support value chain and market services, and Household-Months Household
training on sustainable production and (i.e. number of Served per Month
management practices. households served *
number of months
served)
Business Skills Provision of vocational and business Number of People Cost per Person
Training skills training for income generation Receiving Training Receiving
and employment. Training
Case Management Provision of case management Number of Children Cost per Child
for At-Risk Children services for children who are Served Served
separated or unaccompanied minors or
at risk of trafficking and exploitation.

Child Friendly Provision of safe spaces and schools Number of Children Cost per Child
Spaces where communities create nurturing Served Served
environments for children to access
free and structured play, recreation,
leisure and learning activities; these
spaces may provide health, nutrition
and psychosocial support and other
activities that restore a sense of
normality and continuity.
Conditional Cash Provision of cash to individuals, Value of Cash Cost per Dollar
Transfer households, or community recipients Transferred Transferred
through electronic or direct cash, or via (i.e. Cost Transfer
paper or evouchers, with conditions Ratio)
that must be met before receiving a
transfer or restrictions on what a
transfer can be spent on once
received.
Creating Social Civic engagement programs to Number of Cost per
Accountability improve accountability, transparency, Communities with Community with
Mechanisms responsiveness, performance, and Accountability Accountability
civic voice and participation in service Mechanisms Created Mechanisms
delivery. Created
Distribution of Provision of family planning or birth Number of Cost per Couple
Family Planning spacing methods. Couple-Years of per Year of
Supplies Protection (CYPs) Protection
Provided
Encouraging Provision and sensitization of Number of Women Cost per
women to deliver at obstetrics and gynecology services at Delivering with a Institutional Birth
health institutions health institutions for expecting Skilled Attendant
mothers.
Food Assistance Provision of safe and nutritious food Value of Items Cost per Dollar
commodities; or financing to support Distributed Value Distributed
the procurement and distribution of
food.
Generic Program General program to deliver services for Number of Units Cost per Unit
the benefit of people in need.
Legal Aid Case Provision of legal case management Number of Cases Cost per Case
Management services on government Managed
documentation, access to social
services, illegal detention, asylum, etc.

Mental Health Care Provision of healthcare that addresses Number of Mental Cost per Mental
at Clinics mental health conditions and Health Consultations Health
associated impaired functioning. Provided Consultation
Non-Food-Item Provision of items for sleeping, food Value of Items Cost per Dollar
(NFI) Distribution preparation and storage, eating and Distributed Value Distributed
drinking, thermal comfort, lighting, and
personal clothing to ensure health,
dignity, safety and well-being.
Parental Coaching Provision of parenting and family skills Number of Cost per
Programs programs to strengthen the capacities Households Reached Household
of caregivers to reduce violence and with Coaching
insecurity that children might face
within their homes and encourage
positive physical and mental
development.
Providing Business Provision of small business grants to Number of People Cost per Person
Grants entrepreneurs to develop viable Receiving a Business Receiving a
business plans; or business plan Grant Business Grant
competitions with cash awards.
Value of Business Cost per Grant
Grant Amount Dollar Provided
Provision of Provision of safe and effective primary Number of Primary Cost per
Primary Healthcare healthcare to prevent avoidable Health Consultations Consultation
Services mortality, morbidity, suffering and Provided
disability.
Provision of Procurement of vaccines for partners Number of Vaccine Cost per Vaccine
Vaccines with cold-chain storage and transport; Doses Distributed Dose Distributed
or direct delivery of vaccines to people
in need. Number of People Cost per Person
Receiving Vaccines Receiving
Vaccines
Supporting GBV Provision of essential health and Number of Women Cost per Woman
Survivors at psychosocial services to survivors of Served Served
Women's Centers gender-based violence at women's
centers.
Teacher Provision of face-to-face training to Number of Cost per Teacher
Development: teachers and school management on Teacher-Days of per Day of
Face-to-Face topics such as pedogagy, classroom Training Training
Trainings management, etc. (i.e. number of
teachers * number of
days of training)
Teacher Provision of ongoing professional Number of Cost per Teacher
Development: support such as regular school-based Teacher-Years of per Year of
Ongoing peer discussions for teachers to revisit Support Support
Professional content learned in training and to gain (i.e. number of
Support ongoing learning opportunities. teachers * number of
years of support)
Treatment for Provision of treatment for severe acute Number of Children Cost per Child
Severe Acute malnutrition and wasting among Treated (Excluding Treated
Malnutrition children. Defaulters)
Unconditional Cash Provision of cash to individuals, Value of Cash Cost per Dollar
Transfer households, or community recipients Transferred Transferred
through electronic or direct cash, or via (i.e. Cost Transfer
paper or evouchers, without conditions Ratio)
that must be met before receiving a
transfer or restrictions on what a
transfer can be spent on once
received.