The SMART criteria are well-accepted in the field of monitoring and evaluation as criteria for assessing the quality of project indicators (the variables that are tracked to measure changes or achievements in connection with an intervention). That said, the letters of the acronym have been defined in different ways. Common terms used when explaining the SMART criteria include: Specific; Measurable; Attainable, Appropriate or Attributable; Relevant, Realistic, Reliable; and Timebound. This checklist can be used to review project indicators to determine if they meet quality standards or need to be revised or discussed further.
