In today's complex development and social change landscapes, linear theories of change and rigid logframes often fail to capture the true impact of an intervention. This training course is designed to empower M&E professionals to master outcome harvesting, a dynamic methodology that is perfectly suited for adaptive programming. By shifting the focus from pre-defined indicators to identifying, documenting, and verifying real-world changes, participants will learn how to make sense of emergent outcomes and unintended consequences. This allows organizations to learn in real-time and make strategic adjustments, ensuring their work remains relevant and effective in unpredictable environments.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for implementing outcome harvesting as a central tool for learning and adaptation. Participants will gain skills in everything from designing an outcome harvest and engaging a broad range of stakeholders to substantiating claims of change and using harvested data to inform program pivots. The course is a strategic investment for organizations committed to moving beyond simple accountability to genuine learning, ensuring that their projects not only report on what they intended to do, but also discover what they have truly achieved.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• M&E Specialists
• Program and Project Managers
• Researchers
• Humanitarian Aid Workers
• Peacebuilding Practitioners
• Civil Society Leaders
• Government Officials
• Consultants
• Grant Managers
• Strategic Planners

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of outcome harvesting.
• Master the process of designing a comprehensive outcome harvest.
• Learn how to select and use a variety of data collection tools.
• Develop a framework for integrating outcome harvesting into the project cycle.
• Build a more participatory and inclusive approach to monitoring.
• 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 outcome harvesting techniques to a wide range of contexts.
• Enhance the long-term credibility and effectiveness of projects.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Outcome Harvesting

• The limitations of traditional M&E methods
• Defining outcome harvesting and its purpose
• The business case for outcome harvesting
• An overview of the outcome harvesting workflow
• The difference between an outcome and a result

Module 2: Foundational Concepts for Adaptive Programming

• 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
• An overview of the data-to-dashboard workflow

Module 3: Designing an Outcome Harvest

• The importance of a clear and focused framework
• The role of a "sequential" and a "concurrent" design
• Integrating a gender and social inclusion analysis
• The importance of a "risk and mitigation" plan
• Case studies on effective framework design

Module 4: Data Collection for Outcome Harvesting

• The importance of a mixed-methods approach
• Using creative tools for data collection (e.g., photo-voice, digital storytelling)
• 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: Third-Party Verification

• The importance of a third-party verification strategy
• The role of a third-party monitor in an inaccessible area
• Best practices for designing a verification checklist
• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• Case studies on effective third-party monitoring

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 potentially harmful 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 conflict-sensitive 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: Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

• The core principles of AAP
• The role of a community feedback mechanism
• The importance of a complaints and response system
• The role of a beneficiary satisfaction survey
• Best practices for closing the feedback loop

Module 10: Mainstreaming Outcome Harvesting

• How to integrate outcome harvesting into the project cycle
• The importance of a phased implementation strategy
• The role of outcome harvesting 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 a conflict-sensitive 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 Outcome Harvesting

• The potential of community-based monitoring
• 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 outcome harvesting 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

Module 16: Building Your Outcome Harvesting 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

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.