Traditional M&E often focuses on programmatic outputs without delving into the complex human behaviors that drive them, leaving a crucial gap in understanding why interventions succeed or fail. This training course is designed to empower M&E and project professionals to integrate behavioral insights into their work. By leveraging principles from behavioral economics and psychology, participants will learn how to design monitoring systems that track changes in people's decision-making, habits, and social norms. This provides a powerful new lens for understanding a project's impact and for designing more effective and user-centric interventions.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for building an M&E framework that is sensitive to the nuances of human behavior. Participants will gain skills in everything from conducting behavioral diagnostics and designing A/B tests to analyzing data on a person's choices and communicating these findings to a wide range of stakeholders. The course is a strategic investment for organizations seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their projects, 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
• Behavioral Scientists
• Researchers
• Public Health Practitioners
• Government Officials
• Consultants
• Social Entrepreneurs
• Civil Society Leaders
• Strategic Planners

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of behavioral insights and their relevance to M&E.
• Master the process of designing a behavioral M&E framework.
• Learn how to select and measure key indicators of behavioral change.
• Develop a data collection and analysis plan for behavioral data.
• Integrate ethical considerations and safety protocols.
• Build a more participatory and inclusive approach to monitoring.
• Communicate findings from a behavioral M&E analysis.
• Ensure ethical considerations and safety protocols in data collection.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management.
• Apply M&E techniques to a wide range of sectors.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Behavioral M&E

• The limitations of traditional M&E
• Defining behavioral insights and their purpose in M&E
• The business case for a behavioral approach
• An overview of the M&E workflow
• The difference between an output and a behavioral outcome

Module 2: Foundational Concepts of Behavioral Science

• 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 Behavioral M&E Framework

• The importance of a clear and focused framework
• The role of a behavioral analysis 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: Behavioral Data Collection

• The importance of a mixed-methods approach
• Using surveys and questionnaires to measure behavioral outcomes
• The role of interviews and focus group discussions
• The use of a simple survey and a focus group discussion
• Practical labs on a basic data collection tool

Module 5: A/B Testing and Experimental Design

• The importance of a clear and focused research question
• The role of a "control group" and an "experimental group"
• The use of a simple A/B test
• The importance of a clear and consistent reporting style
• Practical labs on a basic A/B test

Module 6: 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 behavioral perspective
• The importance of data triangulation

Module 7: 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 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 Behavioral M&E

• 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 public health project
• M&E for a financial inclusion project
• M&E for a climate action project
• M&E for a governance project
• M&E for a social protection project

Module 12: The Role of the M&E Professional

• Shifting from a technician to a facilitator
• The skills required for a behavioral 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 Behavioral M&E

• The potential of community-based monitoring with a focus on behavior
• 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 behavioral 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 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.