Data Point Volume
Indicators x Frequency x Sites gives you the total number of data points your team must handle each year.
Total indicators tracked across your program (1-500)
How often data is collected for each indicator
Distinct locations where data is collected (1-500)
Number of staff involved in collecting each data point (1-10)
Time to collect, record, and verify a single data point (1-120 minutes)
Fully loaded cost including salary, benefits, and overhead ($1-$500)
Burden Rating
Annual Hours
500
hours/year
Annual Cost
$12,500
USD/year
Data Points
2,000
per year
Cost per Indicator per Year
$250
Benchmark Comparison
Typical programs with 50 indicators collect 200 - 400 data points per year. Your program generates 2,000 data points annually.
Want to reduce your M&E burden?
Our approach helps programs cut data collection overhead while preserving decision-grade evidence.
See How We WorkThe burden calculator uses a straightforward model to estimate the total effort your M&E system demands.
Indicators x Frequency x Sites gives you the total number of data points your team must handle each year.
Each data point requires staff time to collect, record, and verify. The calculator multiplies volume by effort per point.
Hours are converted to cost using your fully loaded staff rate, revealing the true financial weight of your M&E system.
Our decision-focused approach helps programs cut data collection overhead by 30-50% while maintaining decision-grade evidence.