The planning of IKI programmes is based on the results chain as defined by the OECD. This assumes that the activities carried out by a programme create products, goods, services or sets of regulations/ standards and potentially resulting changes that are termed outputs (specific programme goals) in the IKI. These, in turn, are the prerequisite for achieving the outcome (overarching programme goal). The outcome describes a change at the level of the target groups that has been made possible by the programme and can verifiably be attributed to it. The impact (long-term result) of an IKI programme is the contribution made to climate protection in form of the mitigation of emissions, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, or the conservation of biological diversity.
The following diagram depicts the results chain, drawing on OECD terminology. The blue, curved arrows represent the hypotheses that link the various levels. These hypotheses are assumptions as to how and under what conditions activities contribute to the outputs and these, in turn, to the outcome, which then, respectively, unfolds its long-term impact. The hypotheses made in the course of the results chain should be realistic from the beginning and should be checked at regular intervals during the IKI programme to ensure that they are correct. As depicted in the diagram the outputs and the outcome have to be specified by indicators.
