Rapid nutrition surveys should be planned and budgeted to be carried out at three points during the life of the project: (i) during project formulation (the baseline), (ii) during the mid-term review and (iii) at project completion (final evaluation). For example, in a six-year project, surveys would be carried out before the start of project activities (year 0), after several years of project implementation (year 3) and at the end of the project (year 6).

The budget estimate below is intended only as a rough guide. Variables in the budget are marked with an X. Country-specific values should be substituted for certain items (such as ‘consultant fees’, ‘per diem’ and researcher ‘stipends’).

Budget Estimate

Assumptions:
Sample size = approximately 800 children
Survey personnel = one consultant, ten local researchers and two drivers

Item:	Calculation:	Cost: USD [example]
1. Personnel		11 950
	a) Consultant – international
	i) Consultant fees = $ X x 25 days	5 000
	ii) Per diem = $ X x 25 days	1 250
	iii) International travel = $ X	2 000
	b) Researchers (ten)
	i) Stipend = 10 x $ X x 20 days	3 000
	c) Support staff (two drivers)
	i) Stipend = 2 x $ X x 20 days	700
2. Equipment		1 500
	a) Scales
	i) Salter scales = 4 x $ X	200
	ii) Adult scales = 4 x $ X	200
	b) Measuring Boards
	Infant/child measuring boards = 4 x $ X	600
	c) Questionnaire printing/duplication, clipboards, pencils, etc.	500
3. Local transportation		1 000
	a) Vehicle hire (two)
	[this is ordinarily an in-kind contribution]
	b) Fuel and maintenance	1 000
Total		14 450