Traditional M&E systems are often designed for donors and managers, overlooking the needs of the very people who interact with them daily: project staff and community members. This leads to low data quality, user frustration, and a missed opportunity for genuine learning. This training course is designed to empower M&E professionals to apply human-centered design (HCD) principles, creating monitoring and evaluation systems that are intuitive, useful, and empowering for all stakeholders. By placing the end-user at the heart of the design process, participants will learn how to build systems that people want to use, leading to better data, increased ownership, and more effective programs.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for using HCD to transform M&E systems from a burden into a valuable tool. Participants will gain skills in everything from conducting user interviews and prototyping data collection tools to gathering user feedback and iterating on their designs. The course is a strategic investment for any organization seeking to enhance the efficiency and relevance of their M&E systems, ensuring their work is a force for positive change in a world that needs it most.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• M&E Specialists
• Program and Project Managers
• User Experience (UX) Designers
• Researchers
• Data Analysts
• Civil Society Leaders
• Humanitarian Aid Workers
• Consultants
• Strategic Planners
• Grant Managers

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of human-centered design.
• Master the process of designing an M&E system with the end-user in mind.
• Learn how to conduct a user needs assessment.
• Develop a framework for creating user-friendly data collection tools.
• Build a more participatory and inclusive approach to M&E.
• Communicate findings to different audiences while managing risk.
• Ensure ethical considerations and safety protocols in data collection.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management.
• Apply human-centered design techniques to a wide range of sectors.
• Enhance the long-term credibility and effectiveness of projects.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Human-Centered Design

• The limitations of traditional M&E
• Defining human-centered design and its purpose in M&E
• The business case for an HCD approach
• An overview of the HCD workflow
• The difference between a user and a stakeholder

Module 2: Foundational Concepts for HCD

• 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: Empathy: Understanding Your Users

• The importance of a user needs assessment
• The role of an "empathy map" and a "persona"
• Integrating a gender and social inclusion analysis
• The importance of a "risk and mitigation" plan
• Case studies on effective user research

Module 4: Designing User-Friendly Tools

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

Module 5: Prototyping and Testing

• 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 6: Data Collection and Security

• The importance of a clear and secure data collection protocol
• The role of an encrypted mobile data collection app
• The use of a simple and secure database
• The importance of a data backup and recovery plan
• Protocols for handling sensitive and confidential data

Module 7: Data Analysis and Interpretation

• 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 user-centric perspective
• The importance of data triangulation

Module 8: 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 9: Mainstreaming HCD

• 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 10: The Role of the M&E Professional

• Shifting from a technician to a facilitator
• The skills required for an HCD 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 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 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

Module 13: CBM and HCD

• The potential of community-based monitoring with a focus on HCD
• 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 an HCD framework
• Troubleshooting common challenges in data collection
• Analyzing and interpreting a set of data
• Peer review and feedback sessions on framework design

Module 15: Building Your Roadmap

• Creating a customized plan for a new project
• Identifying key stakeholders and securing buy-in
• Developing a phased implementation strategy
• Measuring the ROI and business impact of the investment
• Final Q&A and course wrap-up

Module 16: The Role of a Data Team

• The importance of a cross-functional team
• The role of a data scientist, a data analyst, and an M&E specialist
• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• The long-term implications for the organization
• The importance of a "data" framework

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.