Humanitarian and development organisations are expected to demonstrate results, adapt quickly and answer to the people they serve. Manual reporting makes all three difficult. Digital tools can cut delays and errors, but only when they are built on a clear results framework, sound data governance and enough care for quality that managers trust what they see.

The programme begins with the MEAL system as a whole: theory of change, logical framework, indicator selection and data flow mapping. It moves to digital collection, covering form design, skip logic, validation, offline syncing, sampling, enumerator training and ethical safeguards. Participants then turn to data management and visualisation: cleaning, coding, combining sources, and building dashboards that show progress against targets with filters, maps and trends. A dedicated block addresses data quality assurance, including verification routines, discrepancy analysis and data protection obligations. The programme closes with accountability to affected populations and structured learning.

Teaching is laboratory-based. Each participant builds a working form and dashboard from sample programme data. They finish with a digital MEAL plan outline for their own project and a practical checklist for maintaining data quality over time.

After the programme, participants will be able to:

• Design a MEAL framework with indicators, targets and clear data flows.
• Build and deploy mobile data collection forms with validation and skip logic.
• Plan sampling, enumerator training and field testing for digital surveys.
• Clean, structure and analyse programme data using spreadsheets and dashboard software.
• Create dashboards that present progress, trends and geographic patterns to managers.
• Carry out data quality assessments and design corrective action plans.
• Set up feedback and complaints channels and apply the findings in learning reviews.

The programme is ideal for people who plan, run or use programme data, including:

• Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning officers
• Programme and project managers in NGOs and UN agencies
• M&E coordinators in government and donor-funded projects
• Data officers and information management staff
• Research officers and survey supervisors
• Programme quality and compliance officers
• Humanitarian coordinators and cluster information managers
• Consultants conducting evaluations or baseline studies

Participants leave with:

• A tested mobile data collection form built from their own indicator list.
• A working dashboard built from sample data and ready to adapt.
• A data quality assessment checklist with verification steps.
• A feedback and complaints mechanism design suited to their context.
• A digital MEAL plan outline covering tools, roles, schedule and data protection.

Learning takes place at laptops and on mobile devices through:

• Guided labs in which every participant builds forms and dashboards
• Sample datasets modelled on health, livelihoods and protection programmes
• Field simulation: pairs interview each other with the forms they designed
• Discussion of ethical and security issues in digital data collection
• Individual coaching on the MEAL plan outline

Participants who attend the sessions and complete the labs receive a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy.