Course overview
Mobile Data Collection for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) using ODK and KoboToolbox is a practical, hands-on course designed to equip Monitoring and Evaluation professionals, researchers, development practitioners and field teams with the skills required to design, deploy, manage and analyze digital data-collection activities using mobile and web-based technologies. Participants learn how to replace paper-based questionnaires with structured electronic forms that can be administered using smartphones and tablets, including in environments with limited or intermittent internet connectivity.
The course provides an end-to-end understanding of mobile data collection, from developing an M&E data-collection strategy and translating indicators into digital questionnaires to designing forms, applying validation rules, deploying surveys, managing field teams, monitoring submissions, synchronizing data and exporting datasets for analysis. Participants work with ODK and KoboToolbox to develop realistic forms for household surveys, project monitoring, beneficiary registration, needs assessments, research, health programmes, agriculture, education and community development.
Course objectives
- Explain the role of mobile data collection in modern M&E and research.
- Design structured electronic forms for field data collection.
- Create forms using KoboToolbox and ODK-compatible workflows
- Apply question types, constraints, validation rules and skip logic.
- Translate M&E indicators and data requirements into effective digital questionnaires. .
- Understand the ODK and KoboToolbox mobile data-collection ecosystem.
- Use calculations, relevance conditions and required fields to improve data quality. Capture GPS coordinates, photographs, dates, signatures and other field information where appropriate.
- Apply appropriate data protection, consent, confidentiality and ethical practices.
- Export and prepare collected data for analysis in Excel, statistical software, GIS or other analytical platforms
- Develop and deploy a complete mobile M&E data-collection project.
- Monitor field submissions and identify data-quality problems.
- Design forms for household, beneficiary, facility, project and survey data collection.
- Configure and conduct offline data collection and synchronization.
- Deploy forms to mobile devices and manage field data-collection activities.
Who should attend
Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, M&E Managers, M&E Coordinators, Monitoring Officers, Evaluation Specialists, Research Officers, Research Assistants, Data Collection Officers, Data Managers, Data Analysts, Field Officers, Project Managers, Programme Managers, Project Coordinators, NGO Professionals, Development Practitioners, Government Officers, County Government Officers, Donor-Funded Programme Staff, Humanitarian Professionals, Community Development Professionals, Public Health Professionals, Agricultural Extension Officers, Social Researchers, Survey Researchers, Enumerators, Field Supervisors, GIS Professionals, GIS Officers, ICT Officers, Information Management Officers, Programme Officers, University Researchers, Consultants, Development Consultants and professionals responsible for digital field data collection, monitoring, evaluation and research.
Course content
- Module 1: Introduction to Mobile Data Collection for M&E Explore the transition from paper-based to digital data collection and understand how mobile technologies support monitoring, evaluation, research and programme implementation. Examine the advantag
- Module 2: M&E Indicators, Data Requirements and Questionnaire Design Learn how to translate programme objectives, indicators and information requirements into practical data-collection instruments. Participants examine the relationship between objectives
- Module 3: Introduction to ODK and KoboToolbox Understand the ODK and KoboToolbox ecosystem and how its components support form design, mobile data collection, submission management and data export. Participants explore the KoboToolbox environment, projec
- Module 4: Designing Digital Forms and Question Types Develop structured electronic questionnaires using appropriate question types and response formats. Participants work with text, integer, decimal, select-one, select-multiple, date, time, location and
- Module 5: Form Logic, Validation, Constraints and Calculations Build intelligent forms that improve data quality and reduce errors during fieldwork. Participants learn how to use required fields, validation constraints, skip patterns, relevance condition
- Module 6: Advanced Data Capture – GPS, Photos, Signatures and Multimedia Explore the use of mobile-device capabilities to capture information beyond conventional questionnaire responses. Participants learn how GPS coordinates can support field verifica
- Module 7: Building M&E and Research Forms with KoboToolbox Develop complete KoboToolbox forms for realistic monitoring, evaluation and research activities. Participants create structured forms containing multiple sections, respondent information, indicat
- Module 8: ODK Form Development and XLSForm Concepts Explore the principles behind structured ODK-compatible forms and the use of XLSForm concepts for more advanced form development. Participants learn how survey questions, choices, settings, relevance, c
- Module 9: Mobile Deployment, Field Teams and Offline Data Collection Learn how to deploy forms to mobile devices and prepare field teams for data collection. Participants practise downloading forms, completing interviews, saving records and synchronizing
- Module 10: Field Data Collection Management and Quality Assurance Examine how supervisors and M&E managers can monitor fieldwork and maintain data quality while collection is underway. Participants learn how to review incoming submissions, identify missi
- Module 11: Project, User and Data Management in KoboToolbox Manage the administrative aspects of a digital data-collection project. Participants explore project organization, form management, deployment, user access and the handling of collected submissi
- Module 12: Data Export, Cleaning and Preparation for Analysis Learn how to move collected data from KoboToolbox and ODK-based workflows into analytical environments. Participants export datasets and examine common data structures, variable names, respons
- Module 13: GIS, M&E and Spatial Data from Mobile Surveys Explore how GPS-enabled mobile data collection can support spatial monitoring and geographic analysis. Participants examine how coordinates collected in the field can be validated, mapped and combi
- Module 14: Data Protection, Ethics, Consent and Responsible Mobile Data Collection Understand the ethical and data-protection considerations associated with digital field data collection. Participants examine informed consent, confidentiality, personally
- Module 15: Integrated Mobile M&E Data Collection Project Apply the complete workflow by designing and deploying an end-to-end mobile data-collection project. Participants select an M&E scenario, identify indicators and information requirements, design th
General notes
- Practical Training Scenarios 1. Beneficiary Registration and Project Monitoring Create a digital beneficiary-registration form capturing demographic information, location, programme participation, services received and relevant monitoring indicators. Apply validation, skip logic and GPS capture.
- 2. Household Baseline Survey Develop a household questionnaire covering household characteristics, livelihoods, income sources, access to services and programme indicators. Deploy the form for simulated field interviews and review the resulting dataset.
- 3. Agricultural Field Assessment Collect farmer, farm, crop and production information together with GPS coordinates and photographs. Use validation rules and calculations to improve data quality and prepare the results for GIS analysis.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is this course about?
The course teaches participants how to design, deploy, manage and use digital mobile forms for monitoring, evaluation, research and field-data collection using ODK and KoboToolbox.
2. 2. What is KoboToolbox used for?
KoboToolbox is widely used for collecting and managing field data through digital forms, particularly in research, humanitarian, development, public-health and M&E projects.
3. Can KoboToolbox be used for M&E surveys?
Yes. The course specifically focuses on M&E applications including baseline surveys, routine monitoring, beneficiary registration, project verification, needs assessments and outcome-related data collection.
Schedule & fees
| Dates | Location | Duration | Fee (USD) |
|---|
| 02/11/2026 - 06/11/2026 |
Nairobi,kenya or Virtual |
5 Days |
$1,500 |