Skills / Professional Development

Build foundational skills in how to assess, design, and improve programs through training in stakeholder analysis, pathway modeling, lifecycle analysis, and evidence mapping. These workshops equip you with tools to understand systems, identify leverage points, and support evidence-informed decision-making across program or policy cycles.

• Stakeholder Analysis – Learn how to identify, categorize, and engage stakeholders across programs or policies.

• Pathway Modeling – Map how activities and interventions lead to desired outcomes using logical and causal pathways.

• Lifecycle Analysis – Understand how programs evolve over time and identify points of leverage, risk, or transition.

• Evidence Mapping – Gain skills in synthesizing available evidence to identify gaps, trends, and opportunities.

Our data management training includes best practices for secure data collection, storage, access, retrieval, processing, and usage. You'll learn ethical and efficient approaches to handling both qualitative and quantitative data in compliance with organizational or institutional guidelines. 

• Data Collection & Reporting Systems – Train in systems for gathering, managing, and reporting data across program cycles.

• Data Management – Understand best practices in data storage, processing, retrieval, access, and security.

• Data Governance & Ethics – Learn how to ensure responsible data use and meet compliance with institutional or donor policies.

Gain practical skills in selecting appropriate data collection methods and tools, designing effective surveys and questionnaires, and aligning tools with your evaluation or research objectives. We also provide guidance on using digital and manual data collection systems, ensuring accuracy and inclusivity in your approach. 

• Data Collection Methods & Tools – Explore methods for gathering reliable, valid data—interviews, surveys, focus groups, observations, etc.

• Survey & Questionnaire Design – Learn to develop clear, purpose-driven instruments that collect actionable data.

• Technology-Enhanced Tools – Understand how to use platforms like Otter.ai and Temi for transcription, and Zotero or Mendeley for citation and literature management.

We offer focused training on either qualitative or quantitative data analysis. Sessions are hands-on and aligned with your real-world data and context. To ensure depth, participants are advised to select one focus area or software per training session.

• Qualitative Data Analysis – Select one focus area (e.g., thematic analysis, discourse analysis) using traditional approach or tools like NVivo, Atlas.ti, or Taguette.

• Quantitative Data Analysis – Choose a single platform such as Microsoft Excel, R, SPSS, STATA, SAS, Mplus, or HLM, and build hands-on skills in analysis techniques.

Strengthen your understanding of evaluation cycles, inquiry circles, and how to align evaluation activities with organizational learning. We also offer training on using data collection and reporting systems for MEL, as well as how to interpret and communicate results that drive adaptive change.

• Evaluation Cycles / Inquiry Circles – Understand how to use iterative, learning-focused approaches in monitoring and evaluation.

• Evaluation Policy & Guidelines – Learn how to align your evaluations with institutional or donor frameworks and expectations.

We provide practical guidance on how to write for different audiences—from full technical evaluation reports to policy briefs, community summaries, impact reports, and donor updates. Participants learn how to organize findings, present evidence clearly, and tailor language to various stakeholders. Participants will also explore real-world applications of standards in report writing, stakeholder engagement, and data use for accountability and learning. 

• Report Writing – Get guidance on writing full reports, technical documents, executive summaries, policy briefs, community-friendly versions, interim reports, and more.

• Impact Storytelling – Turn your data into powerful, human-centered stories that resonate with stakeholders and funders.

Gain practical skills to develop compelling funding proposals that align with donor priorities and program goals. Training covers how to craft a clear problem statement, define measurable outcomes, build logical frameworks (logframes or theories of change), structure project narratives, and present persuasive budgets and work plans. Participants also learn how to navigate calls for proposals (RFPs), adhere to funder guidelines, and position their organization or project competitively. 

Learn how to apply local and international evaluation standards, including ethical principles, quality benchmarks, and donor/institutional expectations. Training covers key frameworks like the OECD-DAC criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability), UN Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms, USAID Evaluation Policy, culturally responsive and equity-focused evaluation principles, and institutional review board (IRB) processes.