PPIAF has developed standard definitions and categories of its output and outcome indicators for both PPIAF and SNTA activities to more accurately track their results and thoroughly document the causal chain from outputs to outcomes to impacts:

• Outputs are the direct deliverable(s) as mandated in the terms of reference for the activity being funded by PPIAF.
• Outcomes are the action taken as a direct result of the outputs. These outcomes can usually be expected to occur within two to three years of completion of the outputs.
• Impacts are the changes at the government and/or direct beneficiary level resulting from implementation of the outcomes. Impacts usually take much longer to materialize, particularly in PPIAF's case, and usually are the result of several interventions.

Output and outcome categories group the indicators by type of advisory assistance PPIAF can provide: enabling environment reform, project cycle-related assistance, and capacity and awareness building. These are indicators common to advisory work, which is the nature of the technical assistance PPIAF provides. Investment projects have other indicators as their objective is to develop specific assets; investment projects have direct impacts on beneficiaries, associated with the direct investment in the asset and the delivery of a service.

This methodology ensures that every output, outcome, and impact is accounted for, and makes the results of PPIAF and SNTA activities consistent between programs and thus easier to aggregate and thus report.