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Indicator library

235 humanitarian indicators to choose from.

Browse a library of 235 humanitarian indicators across eight sectors. Choose the indicators relevant to your project; availability depends on your plan. Review definitions and measurement methods for your context.

Reference frameworks
  • Sphere
  • WASH Cluster
  • INEE
  • FSC
  • GBV AoR
  • IATI Standard
meal / indicator-library
Library at a glance
235
indicators in the library
  • WASH 38
  • Health 32
  • Education 26
  • Protection 29
  • Food Security 31
  • Livelihoods 24
  • Shelter 25
  • Nutrition 30
Indicators
235
Sectors
8
Languages
9
Filter

Browse the library by sector

Showing selected examples from 235 indicators across 8 sectors

This page shows selected examples, not the full library. Ask us about in-app access and plan limits.

WASH

38 indicators

Water, sanitation and hygiene indicator examples.

  • WASH-1.1 Access to safe drinking water
    Numerator
    HHs with 15+ L/p/day from improved source
    Denominator
    All targeted HHs
  • WASH-2.1.b Functional latrines per person
    Numerator
    Functional latrines
    Denominator
    People in caseload / 20
  • WASH-3.2 Hygiene kit distribution coverage
    Numerator
    HHs that received standard hygiene kit
    Denominator
    Targeted HHs in distribution plan
  • WASH-4.4 Handwashing behaviour at critical times
    Numerator
    Caregivers reporting handwashing at 3 critical times
    Denominator
    Caregivers surveyed
  • WASH-5.1 Water quality — residual chlorine
    Numerator
    Tap samples passing 0.2–0.5 mg/L FRC
    Denominator
    Tap samples tested

Health

32 indicators

Primary healthcare, MHPSS and outbreak-response indicator examples.

  • HLTH-1.2 Outpatient consultations per clinician
    Numerator
    Outpatient consultations
    Denominator
    Clinician days available
  • HLTH-2.3 Children 6–59m screened for acute malnutrition
    Numerator
    Children screened (MUAC + oedema)
    Denominator
    Estimated 6–59m population
  • HLTH-4.1 Antenatal care — 4+ visits
    Numerator
    Pregnant women with 4+ ANC visits
    Denominator
    Pregnant women in caseload
  • HLTH-6.2 MHPSS referrals completed
    Numerator
    Referrals closed with documented follow-up
    Denominator
    MHPSS referrals issued

Education

26 indicators

Education in Emergencies indicator examples.

  • EDU-1.1 Enrolment rate in temporary learning spaces
    Numerator
    Children enrolled in TLS
    Denominator
    School-age children in caseload
  • EDU-2.2 Teachers trained in psychosocial support
    Numerator
    Teachers completing 5-day PSS module
    Denominator
    Teachers in programme
  • EDU-3.4 Daily attendance rate
    Numerator
    Daily attendance (avg, 30 days)
    Denominator
    Enrolled learners
  • EDU-5.1 Learning outcome — literacy gain
    Numerator
    Learners gaining 1+ EGRA band over baseline
    Denominator
    Learners assessed at endline

Protection

29 indicators

GBV, child protection, and general protection indicators with safeguarding-aware data shapes.

  • PRT-1.1 Safe spaces operational
    Numerator
    Safe spaces meeting minimum service package
    Denominator
    Safe spaces in caseload
  • PRT-2.3 GBV survivors receiving case management
    Numerator
    Survivors with documented case plan
    Denominator
    Survivors disclosing within reporting period
  • PRT-3.1 Children released from armed groups reintegrated
    Numerator
    Children completing 12-month reintegration
    Denominator
    Children admitted into reintegration
  • PRT-4.2 Awareness of feedback channels
    Numerator
    Respondents naming one accountability channel
    Denominator
    Respondents surveyed

Food Security

31 indicators

Food-security indicator examples, including FCS, rCSI and HDDS.

  • FSEC-1.1 Food Consumption Score (FCS) — acceptable
    Numerator
    HHs with FCS ≥ 35 (oil/sugar adj.)
    Denominator
    HHs surveyed
  • FSEC-2.3 Reduced Coping Strategy Index
    Numerator
    HHs with rCSI ≤ 3
    Denominator
    HHs surveyed
  • FSEC-3.1 Cash transfer delivery on schedule
    Numerator
    HHs receiving CVA within ±3 days of plan
    Denominator
    HHs in CVA roster
  • FSEC-4.2 Household Dietary Diversity Score
    Numerator
    HHs with HDDS ≥ 5
    Denominator
    HHs surveyed

Livelihoods

24 indicators

Livelihoods, market systems and graduation programming.

  • LH-1.2 Income recovery — primary household earner
    Numerator
    HHs reporting income at 80%+ of baseline
    Denominator
    HHs in livelihoods caseload
  • LH-2.1 Productive asset transfer completed
    Numerator
    HHs receiving full PAT package
    Denominator
    HHs in PAT roster
  • LH-3.3 Vocational graduates in work (6m)
    Numerator
    Graduates in waged or self-employment at 6m
    Denominator
    Vocational graduates

Shelter

25 indicators

Emergency, transitional and durable shelter solutions with NFI tracking.

  • SH-1.1 Emergency shelter coverage
    Numerator
    HHs with shelter ≥ 3.5 m² per person
    Denominator
    HHs in shelter caseload
  • SH-2.2 Transitional shelter handover on schedule
    Numerator
    T-shelters handed over within plan window
    Denominator
    T-shelters scheduled in period
  • SH-3.1 NFI kit completeness
    Numerator
    HHs receiving full NFI kit
    Denominator
    HHs scheduled for NFI distribution

Nutrition

30 indicators

Nutrition indicators including SAM/MAM treatment, IYCF and micronutrient programming.

  • NUT-1.1 SAM treatment recovery rate
    Numerator
    Children discharged as recovered
    Denominator
    Children admitted for SAM in cohort
  • NUT-2.3 IYCF counselling reach
    Numerator
    Caregivers receiving IYCF counselling
    Denominator
    Caregivers of 0–23m in caseload
  • NUT-3.1 MAM coverage by community screening
    Numerator
    MAM cases identified by CHW screening
    Denominator
    Estimated MAM cases (caseload)
  • NUT-4.2 Micronutrient powder distribution
    Numerator
    Children 6–23m receiving 30 sachets / 60d
    Denominator
    Children 6–23m in caseload
Anatomy of an indicator

Review the definition before collecting data

Use documented definitions as a starting point. A qualified MEAL reviewer should confirm the source and version, units, denominator, reporting period, sampling and suitability for the programme. References do not imply endorsement of every sample threshold.

  • Compare carefully across projects

    Shared definitions support comparison. Check periods, units, denominators and overlapping populations before combining results; summed reach is not necessarily unique people reached.

example entry — wash set
WASH-1.1 Access to safe drinking water
Numerator
HHs with 15+ L/p/day from improved source
Denominator
All targeted HHs
Frequency
Monthly
Disaggregation
Sex · age · disability
Standard reference
Sphere · WASH Cluster
From library to dashboard

Pick, set targets, track reach

Keep project definitions and MEAL reporting aligned. Selecting library text does not by itself link a project logframe to MEAL results.

  1. Choose relevant indicators

    Choose relevant entries within your plan limits.

  2. Set targets and baselines

    Targets, baselines and reporting frequency live on the project record, not in a side spreadsheet.

  3. Track approved indicator actuals

    Indicator submissions enter a review queue. Approved submissions update the corresponding indicator actuals; narrative reports do not automatically become accepted results.

Illustrative MEAL dashboard with fictional sample data — reach, MEAL score and SADDD breakdown.
Request the indicator reference

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Email us to ask about the full indicator reference and available formats.

indicator-library.pdf 235 entries · numerator, denominator, frequency, disaggregation

Start with documented definitions, then set the targets and reporting periods your project needs.