Power BI for Monitoring and Evaluation Reporting Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, M&E Manager and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-ME-154

Before you join: This intermediate course assumes familiarity with common M&E concepts, including indicators, baselines, targets, disaggregation, logframes and reporting cycles.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Monitoring and evaluation teams often hold programme data across spreadsheets, partner submissions, survey extracts and operational systems, yet struggle to produce timely, trusted reporting. Static reports can obscure missed targets, weak disaggregation, late partner data and implementation risks. Power BI provides a practical reporting environment for turning approved M&E datasets into governed dashboards that support programme management, donor reporting and performance review.

This course teaches participants to build Power BI reports around results frameworks, indicator reference sheets, logframes and donor reporting requirements. Participants prepare monitoring data with Power Query, design star-schema data models, create DAX measures for targets and actuals, and develop dashboards for results, equity, geography, implementation progress and data quality. The course also addresses row-level security, refresh planning, accessibility, confidentiality and publication controls for beneficiary and partner data.

Training combines concise technical briefings with guided case work based on development and humanitarian reporting scenarios. Participants work through examples such as district-level health coverage, partner activity reporting, cash assistance monitoring and outcome indicator tracking. They leave with a reusable M&E Power BI reporting blueprint, including a data model design, indicator measure specification, dashboard wireframe, governance checklist and 90-day implementation plan.

The course is suited to professionals who already work with M&E data and need to produce or manage Power BI reporting. It is particularly relevant where organisations must reconcile multiple reporting sources, maintain clear indicator definitions and provide decision-makers with evidence that can be traced back to approved data.

What you will be able to do

  • Design a Power BI star-schema model for M&E indicators, targets and disaggregations
  • Prepare monitoring datasets using Power Query profiling, transformations and reconciliation methods
  • Create DAX measures for actuals, targets, variance, achievement rates and reporting completeness
  • Build results dashboards aligned with logframes, indicator reference sheets and donor reporting matrices
  • Apply disaggregation, equity and data-quality analysis to programme performance reporting
  • Configure Power BI security, refresh ownership and publication controls for sensitive M&E data
  • Develop interactive report pages using drill-through, bookmarks, slicers and field parameters
  • Produce a phased implementation plan for an operational M&E Power BI reporting solution

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Build credible M&E dashboards from raw programme and partner reporting data
  • Explain target achievement and variance calculations using transparent DAX measures
  • Present disaggregated results without concealing data-quality limitations
  • Manage confidential beneficiary reporting through defined access and sharing controls
  • Lead informed discussions with programme teams using decision-focused visual evidence

For your organisation

  • Shorten preparation time for routine donor, management and board reporting
  • Improve consistency between indicator definitions, source data and published results
  • Identify reporting gaps, underperformance and late partner submissions earlier
  • Reduce manual spreadsheet consolidation through repeatable Power Query processes
  • Establish clear ownership for report refreshes, security and publication approval

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can translate an M&E framework into structured reporting requirements for Power BI.

  • Results chains linking activities, outputs, outcomes and impact indicators
  • Indicator reference sheets specifying definitions, disaggregation, sources and frequency
  • SMART indicators tested against decision questions and reporting commitments
  • OECD DAC criteria mapped to evaluation questions and evidence needs
  • Data collection calendars aligned with baselines, targets and reporting cycles
  • Ethical handling of beneficiary data, consent and disclosure controls

Participants can design a maintainable data model for programme, indicator and reporting data.

  • Star-schema models separating fact tables from programme, geography and date dimensions
  • Grain defined before relationships to prevent duplicate beneficiary and activity counts
  • One-to-many relationships, cross-filter direction and inactive relationship management
  • Unique keys and bridge tables resolving many-to-many partner reporting records
  • Calendar tables supporting fiscal years, reporting periods and time intelligence
  • Model documentation recording source ownership, refresh timing and transformation rules

Participants can clean, combine and validate recurring M&E data using Power Query.

  • Power Query profiling identifies nulls, errors, duplicates and invalid categories
  • Data types, locale settings and date parsing corrected before loading
  • Merge queries reconcile partner submissions against approved location and indicator lists
  • Append queries consolidate monthly monitoring files using consistent column structures
  • Conditional columns classify reporting status, target achievement and data-quality exceptions
  • Query parameters and folder connectors support repeatable periodic data updates
  • Applied steps documented for audit trails and handover procedures

Participants can create accurate DAX measures for M&E performance and reporting analysis.

  • DAX measures distinguish additive totals from ratios, rates and averages
  • SUMX, CALCULATE and FILTER construct measures at the correct evaluation context
  • DIVIDE prevents denominator errors in coverage and achievement-rate calculations
  • Target-versus-actual measures calculate variance, percentage achievement and traffic-light status
  • Time-intelligence calculations compare reporting periods, cumulative delivery and prior-year results
  • Disaggregation measures retain sex, age, disability and location filter context
  • Measure naming, display folders and descriptions support report maintenance

Participants can design clear dashboards that communicate programme results and exceptions.

  • Indicator scorecards present baselines, targets, actuals, variance and reporting status
  • Bullet charts compare performance against targets without misleading scale choices
  • Small multiples reveal district-level patterns while preserving common axes
  • Maps use appropriate administrative boundaries and avoid false precision
  • Conditional formatting flags missing reports, overdue updates and threshold breaches
  • Accessibility settings improve colour contrast, alt text and keyboard reading order

Participants can build interactive report journeys for different M&E reporting audiences.

  • Report-page objectives derived from donor questions, management decisions and user roles
  • Bookmark-based views separate executive summaries from technical indicator detail
  • Drill-through pages trace aggregate results to geography, partner and project records
  • Field parameters switch measures and disaggregations without duplicating visuals
  • Sync slicers maintain consistent filters across programme performance pages
  • Tooltip pages provide definitions, calculation notes and data-quality context
  • Mobile layouts prioritise essential KPI views for field management teams

Participants can analyse disaggregated results while identifying quality and protection concerns.

  • Disaggregation matrices expose inequities by sex, age, disability and residence
  • Equity comparisons use absolute gaps, relative gaps and population denominators
  • Displacement, protection and safeguarding indicators handled with restricted visibility
  • Data suppression rules prevent identification in small beneficiary groups
  • Missingness patterns distinguish non-reporting, zero values and unknown values
  • Outlier checks compare reported values with historical ranges and plausible limits

Participants can define controls for publishing, sharing and maintaining M&E reports.

  • Row-level security restricts partner, country and programme views by user role
  • Workspace roles separate report authors, publishers, viewers and administrators
  • Power BI Service refresh schedules match source availability and reporting deadlines
  • Data gateways connect approved on-premises sources under documented ownership
  • Data classification labels guide sharing, export and external access decisions
  • Version control and release notes preserve changes to published reports
  • Governance checklists assign owners for indicators, models and dashboards

Participants can align Power BI reporting with donor requirements and management review processes.

  • Donor reporting matrices map required indicators to dashboard measures and evidence
  • Logframe assumptions and risks displayed alongside outcome performance signals
  • OECD DAC evaluation questions supported by traceable visual evidence
  • Portfolio views compare delivery progress, expenditure and implementation risk
  • Exception reports identify underperforming locations requiring management action
  • Data stories distinguish observed results, interpretation, limitations and next decisions

Participants can plan a controlled rollout of a Power BI M&E reporting solution.

  • Requirements workshops convert reporting pain points into prioritised dashboard specifications
  • User acceptance criteria test calculations, filters, definitions and exports
  • Performance tuning reduces model size, visual queries and refresh duration
  • Publication checklists verify confidentiality, accessibility, data currency and sign-off
  • Facilitation plans structure monthly performance reviews around decision questions
  • 90-day implementation roadmap sequences data fixes, releases, ownership and training
  • Personal application plan defines first dashboard, stakeholders and success measures

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. M&E Power BI data model template
  2. Indicator DAX measure specification
  3. Results dashboard wireframe
  4. Data-quality validation checklist
  5. Power BI governance and security checklist
  6. 90-day reporting implementation plan

Who should attend

  • Monitoring and Evaluation Officer — needs repeatable dashboards for indicator tracking and reporting
  • M&E Manager — needs reliable performance views for programme review and donor accountability
  • Programme Manager — needs timely evidence on delivery progress, risks and target achievement
  • Data Analyst — needs to convert programme datasets into governed Power BI reports
  • Grants or Reporting Officer — needs donor-ready results reporting from approved indicator data
  • Humanitarian Information Management Officer — needs controlled visual reporting from operational datasets

Skills and tools covered

M&E data modellingPower Query transformationDAX measure designResults dashboard designData-quality analysisReporting governance

Tools and standards

Power BI Desktop, Power Query, DAX, OECD DAC Criteria

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings followed by structured case work in Power BI Desktop. Participants analyse realistic M&E datasets, prepare data with Power Query, build DAX measures and assemble report pages for programme managers and donors. Group exercises test choices around indicators, disaggregation, data quality and confidentiality. A simulated performance review examines how dashboards support decisions rather than only presentation. Participants finish with application planning for their own reporting environment, data sources and governance responsibilities.

Requirements and prerequisites

This intermediate course assumes familiarity with common M&E concepts, including indicators, baselines, targets, disaggregation, logframes and reporting cycles. Participants should be comfortable working with Excel tables and basic data cleaning tasks, such as checking dates, categories and missing values. Prior experience creating Power BI reports is helpful but not essential; the course introduces the required Power BI Desktop, Power Query and DAX methods. Programming, database administration, advanced statistics and prior use of Power BI Service are not required.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should be comfortable with M&E indicators and Excel-style tables, but prior Power BI experience is not mandatory. The course starts with Power BI Desktop structure, then progresses to Power Query, data modelling and DAX.

Participants should bring a laptop capable of running Power BI Desktop, plus a charger and access to approved organisational software. You may bring non-sensitive sample data, indicator reference sheets or dashboard requirements if your organisation permits it.

The course is designed for M&E officers, programme managers, data analysts, reporting officers and information management staff. It is most useful for people responsible for recurring results reporting, data consolidation or performance review.

General Power BI courses commonly use sales, finance or operational examples. This course uses M&E structures such as logframes, baselines, targets, disaggregation, donor matrices, partner reporting and beneficiary-data controls.

Participants can use the reporting blueprint to select a first dashboard, define required data tables and specify indicator measures. The governance checklist and implementation plan support discussion with programme, IT, data protection and reporting colleagues.

Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. Time is divided between instructor explanation, Power BI build work, case analysis, group discussion and application planning, with breaks scheduled during the day.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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