Many organisations have invested in mobile data tools and dashboards only to find that the numbers disagree, staff distrust them and reports still take weeks. The cause is rarely the software. It is usually an unclear data strategy, weak indicator definitions, missing quality controls and little thought about who uses the information to decide what.

Strategic Digital MEAL, Dashboards & Data Quality is written for leaders who must fix that. It begins with the purpose of a MEAL system and the principles of a sound data strategy, then examines platform selection, system integration and the flow of data from collection to analysis and storage. Participants study dashboard design for managers, donors and communities, and a full data quality framework covering accuracy, completeness, timeliness and consistency, including data quality assessments and audits. The final sessions deal with governance, data protection, adoption and the business case for investment.

Teaching combines strategy discussion with practical build work. Participants review real system designs, sketch and prototype dashboards and leave with a digital MEAL roadmap and a data quality assurance plan.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a digital MEAL strategy aligned to organisational and donor needs.
• Compare and select data collection, management and visualisation platforms.
• Design data flows and integration between field tools, databases and dashboards.
• Specify and prototype dashboards suited to different decision-makers.
• Apply a data quality framework, including routine data quality assessments.
• Plan verification visits and data audits and act on their findings.
• Set governance rules for data ownership, security and responsible use.
• Build a business case and adoption plan for digital MEAL investment.

The course is aimed at experienced professionals who lead or direct MEAL and information systems, such as:

• Heads and directors of monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Senior MEAL and research advisers
• Information management and data officers
• Programme directors and technical leads
• Donor reporting and grants managers
• Health information system managers
• Government planning and statistics officers
• Consultants advising organisations on results systems

Participants leave the course with:

• A draft digital MEAL roadmap with priorities and sequencing.
• A platform comparison matrix scored against their own requirements.
• Wireframes for dashboards aimed at at least two audiences.
• A data quality assurance plan with assessment tools and schedules.
• A data governance checklist covering consent, access and retention.
• A short business case that explains investment in clear terms.

The programme balances strategy and practice through:

• Leadership-level discussion of design choices and trade-offs
• Demonstrations of mobile data tools and dashboard software
• Hands-on dashboard prototyping with sample programme data
• Review of anonymised system designs and audit reports
• Peer consultation on each participant's roadmap

A CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion, issued by Vision Reach Global Consultancy, is presented to participants who attend throughout and complete the practical work.