In many organizations, M&E functions are confined to reporting and compliance, missing a critical opportunity to drive internal learning and strategic adaptation. This training course is designed to empower M&E professionals to become coaches for organizational learning. By moving beyond data collection and reporting, participants will learn how to facilitate dialogue, build a culture of curiosity, and help teams use evidence to reflect on their work and make informed decisions. This approach transforms M&E from a mere accountability exercise into a powerful engine for continuous improvement and innovation.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for building the skills necessary to coach others in M&E. Participants will gain expertise in everything from facilitating learning-oriented meetings and designing collaborative data analysis sessions to navigating resistance and fostering a safe space for honest reflection. The course is a strategic investment for organizations seeking to maximize the value of their M&E systems, ensuring that their work is not only effective but also fuels a dynamic and responsive culture of growth.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• M&E Specialists
• Program and Project Managers
• Team Leaders
• Organizational Development Officers
• Researchers
• Learning and Development Specialists
• Civil Society Leaders
• Consultants
• Strategic Planners
• Grant Managers

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of coaching for organizational learning.
• Master the process of designing a learning-oriented M&E framework.
• Learn how to facilitate effective learning-oriented meetings.
• Develop a framework for integrating learning into the project cycle.
• Build a more participatory and inclusive approach to M&E.
• Communicate findings to different audiences while fostering dialogue.
• Ensure ethical considerations and safety protocols in data collection.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management.
• Apply coaching techniques to a wide range of sectors.
• Enhance the long-term credibility and effectiveness of projects.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Coaching for M&E

• The limitations of traditional, compliance-focused M&E
• Defining coaching for M&E and its purpose
• The business case for a learning-oriented approach
• An overview of the coaching workflow
• The difference between M&E as an audit and M&E as a learning tool

Module 2: Foundational Concepts for Organizational Learning

• The importance of a clear and focused research question
• Understanding the context and its impact on the project
• The role of a program's theory of change
• The importance of a clear and testable hypothesis
• The "do no harm" principle in an M&E context

Module 3: Designing a Learning-Oriented Framework

• The importance of a clear and focused framework
• The role of a "learning question" in M&E design
• Integrating a gender and social inclusion analysis
• The importance of a "risk and mitigation" plan
• Case studies on effective framework design

Module 4: Facilitating Learning-Oriented Meetings

• The importance of a clear and focused agenda
• The use of a simple survey and a focus group discussion
• The role of a "social mapping" and a "trend analysis"
• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• Practical labs on a basic data collection tool

Module 5: Collaborative Data Analysis

• The importance of a clear data analysis plan
• Using simple statistical analysis for quantitative data
• The role of qualitative data analysis methods
• Interpreting findings from a learning perspective
• The importance of data triangulation

Module 6: The Art of Storytelling with Data

• The difference between a simple visual and a data story
• The importance of a clear and compelling narrative
• Using dashboards and visualizations to communicate insights
• The role of a "data story map"
• Practical labs on building a data story

Module 7: Overcoming Resistance to Learning

• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• The use of a simple sprint and a project management tool
• The role of a "learning loop"
• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• The long-term implications for the organization

Module 8: Ethical Considerations and Safety

• The importance of a "do no harm" approach
• Ensuring the safety and privacy of participants
• The role of informed consent in a crisis
• The importance of a community-led ethical review process
• Protocols for handling sensitive and potentially harmful data

Module 9: M&E for a Diverse Audience

• The importance of knowing your audience
• The role of a "stakeholder analysis"
• Designing reports and dashboards for non-technical audiences
• The importance of accessibility and inclusivity
• Case studies on communicating with different audiences

Module 10: Mainstreaming Learning

• How to integrate M&E into the project cycle
• The importance of a phased implementation strategy
• The role of M&E in the project cycle
• Building a culture of adaptive management
• Case studies on successful integration

Module 11: M&E for a Diverse Sector

• M&E for a technology project
• M&E for a social enterprise
• M&E for a humanitarian project
• M&E for a climate action project
• M&E for a governance project

Module 12: The Role of the M&E Professional

• Shifting from a technician to a facilitator
• The skills required for an M&E professional
• Managing power dynamics and group conflicts
• The importance of a non-judgmental and empathetic approach
• The ethical responsibilities of the M&E professional

Module 13: CBM and Coaching

• The potential of community-based monitoring with a focus on coaching
• Training community members as monitors
• The importance of a participatory approach
• The role of a feedback mechanism for continuous learning
• The long-term benefits of a community-led system

Module 14: Practical Application and Simulation

• A hands-on simulation of a real-world project
• Participants work in teams to design a coaching framework
• Troubleshooting common challenges in data collection
• Analyzing and interpreting a set of data
• Peer review and feedback sessions on framework design

Module 15: The Future of M&E

• The role of AI and machine learning in automated analysis
• The potential of blockchain for data integrity
• The use of new data sources (e.g., satellite imagery)
• The rise of complexity-aware M&E
• The long-term implications for the sector

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.