Making Data Collection Meaningful training

This two-day intensive workshop organized by Spur Change in collaboration with the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) and Northern Council for Global Cooperation (NCGC), will be a practical, hands-on experience for participants to dive into planning for data collection; community-led Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, technology for data collection, gender-sensitive and feminist approaches to data collection, and crafting stories of change.

We will apply learning through case studies and practical application, inspiring models and examples of what’s possible, and shared experiences, with lots of opportunities to connect and share knowledge among participants. In the end, you will leave with practical ideas, new M&E friends and more enthusiasm, skills and tools for ensuring your data collection is easy, empowering and impactful.

📚 Learning Outcomes

Through a mix of practical activities and examples of effective practice you will learn how to:

• Design a data collection strategy, including knowing when to begin the design process, and what kinds of data sources and methods to consider;
• Consider community-led Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning options, decide when it makes sense to do so, and assess implications for the project;
• Consider technology tools and app options for data collection, with an understanding of key options, pitfalls, opportunities and best practices.
• Apply gender-sensitive and feminist lenses for data collection and stakeholder engagement;
• Identify the components of a story of change, use interviews to collect data and capture the change, and understand tips and tricks for effortlessly crafting a story of change.

⏰ Workshop Details

The training will be held over 2 days at The Post 750, 750 Hamilton St #110, Vancouver, BC V6B 0E9

The dates are as follows:

• November 19th, 9am - 4:30pm
• November 20th, 9am - 4pm

Prior to the training, it is highly recommended that all participants review the Micro-learning Sessions on Baseline Survey, a series of short videos (total duration: 1 hour) on good data collection practices for small and medium organizations.

📣 Registration Process

• There are 25 spots available for this training, with a maximum of three participants from the same organization able to register. We hope to leave room for as many different organizations as we can.
• Organizations that meet Global Affairs Canada’s criteria as an eligible small or medium organization (SMO) working in the international cooperation sector will be given preference over other organizations.

• BC and Northern territories-based organizations will be given preference for travel subsidies, available for eligible SMO participants. Please register before October 31st, 2025 to apply!
• BCCIC, NCGC and Spur Change will monitor the registration process on a rolling basis and send you confirmation provided you meet the selection criteria.

⏳Registration is open until November 12th, 2025!

👐 Meet the trainer and the guest presenters

Natalie Zend is a Certified Training and Development Practitioner and a UNICEF Results-Based Management (RBM) Master Trainer. An IAF™ Certified Professional Facilitator, she has extensive training in facilitation methods, including facilitating participatory monitoring and evaluation. Natalie has designed and facilitated 4- to 5-day Human Rights Based Approaches and RBM workshops for Global Affairs Canada staff and partners as well as UNICEF, in English, French and Spanish, and co-authored UNICEF’s corporate RBM handbook. She has supported numerous international development organizations in the field application of RBM tools and methods, through coaching, facilitation and process and systems design. Learn more about Natalie on her Linked-in Profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nzend/) and on her website (www.zendialogue.ca).

Salanga’s Partnership Lead, Christina Masching, will join us as a virtual guest presenter. She is a calm and empathetic leader with over 15 years of experience in the NGO world. Since 2007, Christina has worked with nonprofits, starting in project management and working with teams in Asia and Africa on results-based management and gender equality policies. She later excelled in proposal development, helping organizations secure essential funding. With a Master of Social Work, she brings a social justice perspective to her work, always striving for equitable solutions. Christina’s strength is building strong relationships and ensuring client success in using Kinaki, Salanga’s data collection and analysis tool. She is passionate about Kinaki’s ability to empower project implementers by providing access to crucial data for meaningful decision-making. Learn more about Christina on her Linked-in Profile(https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-masching-a6396322/). 

Salanga’s Program Director, Jakub Nemec, will join us as a virtual guest presenter. Jakub is an expert in MEL technology and has hands-on experience with back-end design of database systems specifically for the non-profit development and humanitarian sector. He has led the piloting and roll-out of multi-lingual, cloud-based data collection systems for tracking project impact for 30+ organizations, drawing on 15+ years’ global experience in development, tech design and entrepreneurship. With a track record in international development, software design and deployment, he specializes in designing user-friendly and inclusive tech-user experiences. Jakub brings together best practices and methodologies from social justice, agile and digital principles for development to improve practices and co-create solutions focused on community-driven approaches and supporting transformational change. Learn more about Jakub on his Linked-in Profile(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakub-m-nemec/).

👐 About the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation:

The British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) is a coalition of people working in solidarity with partners across the world working to improve their own conditions. Our diverse and capable membership is made up of international development organizations, civil society groups and individuals.

As a network, BCCIC facilitates and engages its members and British Columbians to build relationships, share knowledge and develop capacity towards achieving sustainable global development. Learn more and join the coalition here:

👐 About the Northern Council for Global Cooperation

The Northern Council for Global Cooperation (NCGC) is a non-profit organization based on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, in Whitehorse, Yukon in Northern Canada. We create pathways for individuals and organizations to be part of the ever evolving and dynamic global movements for social justice. We work to challenge implicit paradigms, to understand our history to make sense of our present and influence the future. We welcome and support all peoples and organizations that share our values and vision to address global inequalities worldwide. https://www.ncgc.ca/

👐 About the Spur Change program:

The Spur Change Program focuses on supporting Canadian small and medium organizations (SMOs) to deliver sustainable results in support of the Feminist International Assistance Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals. As a program of the Inter-Council Network, we work with regional councils to deliver tailored capacity-building opportunities to SMOs from coast-to-coast-to-coast. https://icn-rcc.ca/programs/spur-change/

We hope you register and stay tuned for more opportunities!

Questions?

André Melrose: [email protected]

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