About This Course
Social protection programmes — including cash transfers, food assistance, social insurance, and labour market interventions — serve some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. Ensuring these programmes achieve their intended outcomes demands more than good intentions; it requires timely, accurate, and actionable data. Yet many organisations managing social protection initiatives still rely on paper-based reporting, fragmented databases, and delayed feedback loops that limit their ability to detect problems and make evidence-based decisions.
This five-day intensive programme, Using Technology for Monitoring and Evaluating Social Protection Training, is designed to bridge that gap. It introduces participants to the full spectrum of digital tools and methodologies now available for tracking programme performance — from mobile data collection and biometric verification to real-time dashboards, geographic information systems (GIS), and integrated management information systems (MIS). The course grounds these tools firmly in the social protection context, addressing the specific data needs, ethical considerations, and institutional constraints that characterise this sector.
Participants will work through realistic case studies drawn from cash transfer programmes, social registries, humanitarian response systems, and national safety nets across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. They will leave with a clear understanding of how to select the right technology for their context, how to design digital M&E frameworks aligned with social protection results chains, and how to translate data into compelling evidence for decision-makers and donors.
Delivered by experienced M&E and social protection specialists, this course combines conceptual grounding with hands-on practice. Whether you are scaling up a national social registry, managing a donor-funded cash transfer project, or strengthening a government's social protection information architecture, this programme provides the tools, frameworks, and confidence to do it more effectively.
Who Should Attend
- M&E officers and specialists working in social protection programmes
- Social protection programme managers and coordinators
- Government officials in ministries of social welfare, labour, and finance
- Humanitarian professionals managing cash and voucher assistance
- Data managers and MIS administrators in social protection agencies
- Development practitioners working with NGOs, UN agencies, and bilateral donors
- Policy analysts and researchers focused on social safety nets
- Capacity development officers supporting social protection system strengthening
Learning Objectives
- Design a digital M&E framework aligned with a social protection programme's theory of change and results framework
- Select appropriate technology tools for data collection, management, and reporting in social protection contexts
- Configure and use mobile data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox and ODK for field-level monitoring
- Apply GIS and spatial analysis to map coverage gaps, targeting accuracy, and programme reach
- Build and interpret real-time monitoring dashboards using tools such as Power BI or DHIS2
- Assess the quality, completeness, and reliability of social protection data across multiple sources
- Integrate social registry data with programme MIS for consolidated performance tracking
- Apply data protection principles and ethical standards when handling sensitive beneficiary information
- Communicate M&E findings effectively to government counterparts, donors, and programme teams
- Develop an actionable technology-for-M&E improvement plan for their own organisation or programme
Course Modules
Module 1: Social Protection Programmes and the Case for Digital M&E
- Overview of social protection systems: cash transfers, social insurance, social services, and labour market programmes
- Why traditional M&E approaches fall short in complex, large-scale social protection contexts
- The digital transformation of social protection: global trends and regional case studies
- Linking technology investment to programme accountability, learning, and adaptive management
- Key actors in social protection M&E ecosystems: government agencies, donors, implementers, and civil society roles
- Cost-benefit considerations for digital M&E adoption: investment planning and common pitfalls
Module 2: Designing a Digital M&E Framework for Social Protection
- Mapping the results chain: inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact indicators for social protection
- Selecting indicators that are measurable, relevant, and feasible with available technology
- Defining data flows: who collects what, when, how, and for whom
- Integrating gender, disability, and vulnerability disaggregation into the M&E framework
- Aligning the digital M&E framework with national statistics systems and donor reporting requirements
- Building feedback loops into framework design: how beneficiary and community data feed programme learning
Module 3: Mobile Data Collection for Field Monitoring
- Introduction to KoboToolbox and ODK: platform comparison and selection criteria
- Designing effective digital survey forms for beneficiary registration, verification, and complaints tracking
- Managing field data collection: enumerator training, quality checks, and offline data capture
- Data submission, review workflows, and syncing to central databases
- Implementing skip logic, constraints, and validation rules to improve field data accuracy at the point of entry
- Safeguarding beneficiary data during mobile collection: device security, anonymisation, and field-level consent protocols
Module 4: Social Registries and Management Information Systems
- What is a social registry and how does it function as the backbone of social protection M&E
- Integrating programme MIS with social registry data for consolidated performance reporting
- Data interoperability standards and challenges in multi-programme environments
- Case study: national social registry management in a middle-income country context
- Registry update cycles and dynamic eligibility: managing data currency as household circumstances change
- Governance structures for social registry oversight: roles, access controls, and accountability mechanisms
Module 5: Biometric Verification and Digital Identity in Social Protection
- Role of biometric identification in beneficiary verification and fraud reduction
- Common biometric technologies used in social protection: fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition
- Limitations and risks: exclusion errors, infrastructure gaps, and algorithmic bias
- Designing complementary verification protocols to protect vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations
- Procurement and vendor management considerations for deploying biometric systems at national scale
- Legal and ethical obligations around biometric data storage, retention periods, and beneficiary consent
Module 6: Geographic Information Systems for Social Protection M&E
- Introduction to GIS concepts and spatial data types relevant to social protection
- Mapping programme coverage, beneficiary distribution, and service access using QGIS
- Using spatial analysis to identify targeting gaps, duplications, and underserved areas
- Integrating GIS outputs into programme reports and stakeholder presentations
- Linking household-level survey data with administrative boundary and poverty mapping datasets for enriched spatial analysis
- Using satellite imagery and remote sensing data to support monitoring in hard-to-reach or crisis-affected areas
Module 7: Real-Time Monitoring Dashboards and Data Visualisation
- Principles of effective data visualisation for social protection programme monitoring
- Building interactive dashboards in Power BI using social protection KPI datasets
- Using DHIS2 for health-linked social protection programme monitoring
- Designing dashboards for different audiences: field teams, programme managers, and policymakers
- Establishing dashboard governance: data refresh schedules, access permissions, and version control
- Monitoring dashboard adoption and use: tracking whether visualisation tools are actually informing programme decisions
Module 8: Data Quality Assurance and Verification
- Common data quality problems in social protection M&E: duplication, incompleteness, and inconsistency
- Data quality assessment frameworks and practical checklists for field and administrative data
- Automated validation rules and error-flagging in digital data collection tools
- Conducting periodic data quality audits and corrective action processes
- Using back-checks and independent spot verification to assess enumerator performance and data reliability
- Building a data quality culture: staff incentives, reporting norms, and management accountability for clean data
Module 9: Data Protection, Ethics, and Responsible Use of Technology
- Legal and ethical frameworks governing beneficiary data in social protection programmes
- Applying data minimisation, purpose limitation, and consent principles in M&E design
- Managing cybersecurity risks and data breach response in social protection information systems
- Balancing transparency and accountability with the privacy rights of vulnerable beneficiaries
- Conducting a privacy impact assessment before deploying new data collection or verification technologies
- Addressing power asymmetries in data relationships: ensuring beneficiaries understand how their data is used and can seek redress
Module 10: Communicating M&E Evidence and Building an Improvement Plan
- Translating M&E data into clear, actionable narratives for decision-makers and donors
- Developing programme performance reports that drive adaptive management decisions
- Stakeholder engagement strategies for embedding technology-enabled M&E in organisational culture
- Developing a personal Technology-for-M&E Action Plan: priorities, resources, and next steps
- Identifying and addressing organisational barriers to evidence use: capacity gaps, incentive misalignments, and data silos
- Setting up a continuous learning cycle: how to institutionalise regular review, reflection, and programme adjustment based on M&E findings
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least one year of experience working in a social protection, humanitarian, or development programme in an M&E, data management, or programme coordination role. Basic familiarity with spreadsheet tools such as Microsoft Excel is recommended. No advanced technical or programming background is required, as all digital tools covered in the course are taught from a practical, user-focused perspective.
Training Methodology
- Hands-on configuration and use of KoboToolbox for designing social protection monitoring surveys
- Case study analysis of real-world M&E systems from cash transfer and social registry programmes in Africa and Asia
- Guided dashboard-building exercises using Power BI or DHIS2 with sample social protection datasets
- Small-group scenario exercises in which teams diagnose data quality problems and propose corrective actions
- GIS mapping practicals using QGIS to visualise programme coverage, targeting gaps, and geographic disparities
- Peer review sessions where participants critique and improve each other's M&E framework designs
- Panel-style knowledge-sharing discussions drawing on participants' own programme experiences
- Development of a personal Technology-for-M&E Action Plan that participants take back to their organisations
Organisational Benefits
- Stronger programme accountability through timely, accurate, and verifiable performance data
- Reduced reliance on paper-based reporting and manual data aggregation, saving time and resources
- Improved targeting accuracy and coverage analysis through digital verification and spatial tools
- Enhanced capacity to meet donor and government reporting requirements with credible evidence
- Better identification of implementation bottlenecks through real-time dashboard monitoring
- Strengthened data governance and compliance with beneficiary data protection standards
- More informed decision-making on programme design, scale-up, and resource allocation
- Increased institutional capacity to adapt and innovate M&E systems as programme contexts evolve
Where Is Using Technology for Monitoring and Evaluating Social Protection Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Abuja, Nairobi, Kigali, Kampala, Nakuru, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Naivasha, Kisumu, Arusha, Zanzibar, Dubai, Accra, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mombasa, Lagos, Dar es Salaam, Riyadh, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
17 Oct 2026 – 8 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Nakuru, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,300 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,100 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
+237 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a technical or IT background to attend this course?
No technical background is required. The course is designed for M&E and programme management professionals and focuses on practical, user-level application of digital tools. All software platforms are introduced from the ground up with step-by-step guidance.
Which specific software tools will we use during the training?
Participants will gain hands-on experience with KoboToolbox for mobile data collection, QGIS for spatial mapping, and Power BI or DHIS2 for dashboard development. Sample datasets and pre-configured exercises are provided, so participants do not need prior experience with any of these tools.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. Participants who attend the full five-day programme and complete the practical exercises will receive a Certificate of Completion from TrainingComplex, confirming their participation in Using Technology for Monitoring and Evaluating Social Protection Training.
Is this course relevant if my organisation uses a different MIS platform than the ones taught?
Absolutely. The conceptual frameworks, M&E design principles, data quality approaches, and data governance content are platform-agnostic and apply across all MIS environments. Participants are encouraged to relate the tools and methods taught to their own organisation's systems throughout the course.
Can organisations send multiple staff members to attend together?
Yes, and group attendance is strongly encouraged. When teams attend together, they can work on shared datasets and develop a collective M&E improvement plan, making it significantly easier to apply the learning back in the workplace. Group booking discounts are available — please contact TrainingComplex for details.
