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European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

LIFE Project Indicators (LPIs)

Purpose and Framework

The LIFE Project Indicators (LPIs), formerly known as Key Project-level Indicators (KPIs), are a core component of the LIFE programme’s monitoring and evaluation framework. 

Their primary functions are:

  • Beneficiary reporting: To enable beneficiaries to report and demonstrate project results in alignment with the specific objectives of the relevant LIFE sub-programme and the priorities outlined in the LIFE Call for proposals.
  • Agency oversight: To assist the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) in verifying compliance with the Grant Agreement, assessing project performance, and providing policy feedback and communication support.
  • Programme-level reporting: To report on the progress and achievements of the LIFE programme by aggregating the values reported in each project. This way, it becomes possible to assess its overall performance, as required by Article 19 of the LIFE Regulation (2021/783, Annex II) and in line with the LIFE Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The submission of LPI values is mandatory as part of project reporting for all projects except Technical Assistance, Preparatory Projects and NGO operating grants. 

LIFE impact

Scope

The LIFE Regulations (1293/2013 and 2021/783, Annex II) require the programme's impact to be measured through a standardised set of output and results indicators providing structured information on the environmental, climate, and socio-economic results achieved by LIFE-funded projects. These fall into two broad categories:

Thematic areas:

  • Water, Soil, Resource Efficiency and Waste, Chemicals and Noise, Air Quality
  • Nature and Biodiversity
  • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
  • Clean Energy Transition

Crosscutting outcomes:

  • Governance
  • Raising awareness and synergies
  • Job Creation
  • Economic sustainability and catalytic effect

These indicators are aggregated at the programme level to demonstrate the collective impact of LIFE-funded projects, supporting EU policies and strategies while ensuring transparency in the use of public funds. The results help justify investments, inform policymakers and stakeholders, and contribute to the continuous improvement of LIFE programme management.

Reporting Requirements for Beneficiaries

The project consortium must take the necessary measures throughout the project’s duration to ensure a proper reporting on project impacts by:

  • Recording and updating relevant indicator values in the LPI Webtool (see below)
  • Checking that appropriate monitoring tools are in place
  • Preparing timely the relevant deliverables or reports (e.g. life cycle assessments where applicable).

Once a project is funded, the indicators included in the Grant Agreement are automatically transferred to the LPI Webtool (only accessible to LIFE funded projects) where the coordination beneficiary must record and update the indicators values minimum twice during the project’s lifetime. 

Updates are required at the following stages:

  • First snapshot: Within the first nine months of the project’s implementation, projects are requested to fine-tune and detail in the LPI Webtool the values they expect to reach for each of the indicators by the end of the project and 3 or 5 years after project’s end. While consistency with the indicators chosen in the Grant Agreement is generally expected, changes to the selection are permitted and a higher level of granularity is requested in line with the guidelines.
  • Mid-term snapshot (applicable only to Integrated Projects, Strategic Projects and BEST projects): Projects of long duration, such as the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP) or Strategic Nature Projects (SNaPs), are requested to provide an update of their LPIs at one of the interim reporting stages, linked to the corresponding interim report.
  • Final snapshot: The validation of the Final snapshot by CINEA is a necessary condition to proceed with the final payment. By project end, linked to the preparation of the Final report, beneficiaries provide an update of the LPIs values based on the actual project achievements (Final Snapshot). Significant deviations from the initial submission should be explained in the corresponding reports and/or in the relevant deliverables.

How snapshots are structured

LIFE 1
LIFE 2
LIFE 3
LIFE 4

Validation

CINEA and the external monitoring team are responsible for validating the data submitted by the beneficiaries at each snapshot. An LPI Expert is assigned to each project to provide assistance with the process. Beneficiaries are responsible for ensuring accuracy, providing evidence, and applying sound monitoring methods. 

As mentioned above, beneficiaries of Technical Assistance, Preparatory Projects and NGO operating grants are not required to submit data in the LPI Webtool during implementation.

Indicators selection and type

The indicators available depend on the sub-programme under which a project is funded. Beneficiaries should select indicators that are relevant, measurable, and aligned with project objectives. 

Where LPIs do not cover all project impacts — as may occur given that they are tailored to specific policy priorities — additional project-specific indicators can be reported through regular reporting.

Two different sets of indicators are available for the following sub-programmes and projects:

  1. Clean Energy Transition (CET) sub-programme 

Beneficiaries must report eleven pre-selected, mandatory indicators. Specific guidance is available here.

  1. All other sub-programmes (Nature and Biodiversity, CEQL, and CLIMA - covering both Standard Action Projects and Integrated/Strategic Projects)

The number of indicators on which data need to be submitted depends on the scope and expected impact of each project. In general, beneficiaries must report at least one indicator related to relevant environmental/climate priority targeted in addition to eight mandatory indicators that are common to all projects. Data submitted needs to be supported by some proof of evidence and sound monitoring methods. 

A full guidance document covering each individual indicator and the dropdown options within the LPI Webtool is available here. Beneficiaries are encouraged to review this guidance early to ensure correct indicator selection.

Updates to LPIs

The LPIs and the LPIs Webtool are updated periodically in response to changes in the LIFE Regulation, policy requirements, progress of data gathering and issues identified during implementation. Beneficiaries should stay informed and adapt their reporting according to the latest LPI guidance.

LPI Webtool access

The access to the LPI webtool is granted to:

  • The person designated in the Grant Agreement (Article 1.6.3) for LIFE 2014–2020 projects; or 
  • The Primary Coordinator Contact (PCoCo) designated in the Grant Management System for LIFE 2021–2027 projects.

Those users can grant access to additional users for the specific purpose of filling up the LPI data through the SMART ACCESS WIZARD within the LPI webtool. Please consult the Guidance on the LPI Webtool SMART ACCESS WIZARD to know how to change or add a user in the LPI Webtool.

Video tutorials and presentations

Please note that the following updates should be applied to the videos and presentations listed below: the term “KPI” has been replaced by “LPI”, and an updated link to the LPI database is available here. An updated version of the tutorials will be published as soon as they will become available.