The centrality of baselines in the control and review of programmes and projects in state institutions

Many international development agencies and some national governments base future budget planning and policy decisions on a systematic assessment of the projects and programs in which they have already invested. Results are assessed through mid-term reviews (MTRs), implementation completion reports (ICRs), or through more rigorous impact evaluations (IE), all of which require the collection of baseline data before the project or programme begins. The baseline is compared with the MTR, ICR, or the post-test IE measurement to estimate changes in the indicators used to measure performance, outcomes, or impacts (Bamberger, 2010). An indicator is anything that is measurable that can be used to identify a change in trends. The indicator needs to be relevant, that is, it should tell you what you need to know. This objective of this study is to consider the vital roles that baselines play in the control and review of programmes and projects execution in state institutions with particular reference to Ghana. An interpretive study approach was adopted for the design and gathering data for analysis. This approach culminated in the identification, documentation and interpretation of meanings, beliefs, thoughts and general impressions about baselines. The study revealed that the baselines are very important in the measurement of performance, outcomes and impacts of state projects. In Ghana, baselines play a significant role in operations control and reviews in state institutions.