--- title: "Information Management & MEAL for NGOs | Relief Applications" description: "Field data collection, indicators, dashboards, household surveys and evaluations for NGOs and UN agencies." url: https://reliefapplications.org/services/info-management/ lang: en --- # Data systems, field surveys and evaluations. We set up the forms, standards and dashboards your offices share, then run the surveys and evaluations that tell you what to keep. ## Field data, dashboards, surveys and evaluations. ### Field data collection KoBo, ODK, SurveyCTO or CommCare forms that work offline, with devices set up and enumerators trained. We write the questionnaire with your team, set it up in the tool you already use and make sure it keeps working where the network does not. Enumerators and volunteers are trained before the first visit, and the data reaches your dashboard as it comes in. What you get - A questionnaire and its user manual - Forms that work offline, with simple sync steps - Enumerators and volunteers trained on the devices - Standard checklists and reporting templates - **Tools and methods**: KoBoToolbox, ODK Collect, SurveyCTO, CommCare, LimeSurvey Where we have done it - [Tropical Health](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/tropical-health-malaria-survey-data-visualization/): A household questionnaire on fever, mosquito nets, water and sanitation, run with trained volunteers on mobile devices. - [PIROI](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/piroi-information-management-and-emergency-needs-assessment-and-planning-enap-madagascar/): An offline-first KoBo and ODK set-up with simple sync steps, taught during a needs assessment training in Madagascar. ### Indicators and MEAL frameworks Indicator frameworks, shared definitions and MEAL manuals that your country offices reuse across programmes. Starting from the logframe you already answer to, we agree with your teams what each indicator measures, how it is calculated and where its data comes from. The definitions go into a repository and a manual that every country office reads the same way. What you get - An indicator repository with shared definitions - A MEAL framework and manual - A methodology guide for collecting the data - Workshops with the teams who will use them - **Tools and methods**: Your logframe, Donor reporting templates, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word Where we have done it - [Danish Refugee Council](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/drc-meal-toolbox-for-anticipatory-action/): An indicator repository and a MEAL manual, so DRC can measure the impact of its anticipatory action projects. - [ILO](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/the-alternatives-factory-child-labour-indicator-methodology-and-database-creation/): A methodology guide for building child labour country profiles, with support in virtual workshops with pathfinder countries. ### Dashboards and maps Power BI, Tableau or Metabase dashboards, and maps in ArcGIS or QGIS, fed straight from your forms. We connect the dashboard to your forms, so the figures update as the data comes in, and build it around the few numbers each manager follows. Maps show where the need is, district by district. What you get - Dashboards connected to your forms - Maps of needs, cases or sites - Views for field teams, managers and donors - Guides to update the dashboards yourselves - **Tools and methods**: Power BI, Tableau, Metabase, ArcGIS, QGIS, Leaflet Where we have done it - [PIVOT](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/pivot-monitoring-and-evaluation-system/): An API that feeds dashboards on malnutrition, TB and HIV programmes, for decisions and donor reporting. - [Reporters Without Borders](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/rsf-world-press-freedom-index/): Questionnaire results shown in Power BI as they come in, with mapping tools for a yearly world index. ### Information and MEAL systems One system for activities, beneficiaries and indicators, in place of data spread across spreadsheets and email. When activities sit in one file, beneficiaries in another and indicators in a report, we design one data architecture that links them, so indicators are calculated from the activities instead of counted by hand. We compare the tools that could hold it and choose one with you. What you get - A map of your current tools and data flows - One structure for activities, people and indicators - Indicators calculated automatically - A comparison of tools and a recommendation - **Tools and methods**: ActivityInfo, Airtable, Smartsheet, Google Workspace Where we have done it - [Expertise France](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/expertise-france-structuring-automating-and-visualising-the-meal-data-system-for-the-efor-project/): Regional collection files, a central matrix linking activities to indicators, and a dashboard, for a project across regions of Tunisia. - [Planète Enfants & Développement](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/ped-structuring-and-enhancing-peds-document-management-system-siseo/): One folder architecture, a governance framework and training, so headquarters and field teams file and find documents the same way. ### Evaluations and household surveys Mixed-methods evaluations against OECD-DAC criteria, and household surveys on mobile devices with trained enumerators. We build the evaluation around your questions and the six OECD-DAC criteria, then combine a survey, interviews and focus groups so that each finding rests on more than one source. Household surveys run on mobile devices, with enumerators we train. What you get - An evaluation design: questions, criteria, sample - Questionnaires, interview and focus group guides - Statistics and thematic analysis, triangulated - A report with findings and recommendations - **Tools and methods**: OECD-DAC criteria, Mixed methods, Python and pandas, KoBoToolbox, Power BI Where we have done it - [ITCILO](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/itc-ilo-evaluation-of-training-activities-on-social-protection-2025/): A survey of over 1,800 participants, interviews and focus groups, triangulated into findings and five case studies. - [Tropical Health](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/tropical-health-malaria-survey-data-visualization/): A household malaria survey across 3 provinces of Mozambique, synced from Kobo to Power BI. ### Feasibility studies and reviews Partner visits, recipient questionnaires and comparative reviews before you change how aid is delivered. Before you move from in-kind aid to cash or vouchers, or bring two mechanisms together, we check what markets, partners and recipients can support. We visit partners, survey recipients, compare the options on the same questions and end with a recommendation or a roadmap. What you get - Partner meetings and facility visits - Recipient questionnaires, run with your volunteers - The options compared on the same criteria - Recommendations, a pilot design or a roadmap - **Tools and methods**: Cash and voucher assistance, Participatory analysis, Comparative review Where we have done it - [French Red Cross](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/frc-feasibility-study-vouchers-in-food-assistance/): Partner visits and a questionnaire to food assistance recipients in French Guiana, to design a pilot of vouchers. - [Première Urgence Internationale](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/pui-strengthening-complementarity-between-rapid-response-mechanisms-and-anticipatory-action-in-far-north-cameroon/): A participatory analysis and a joint roadmap linking rapid response and anticipatory action in the Far North of Cameroon. ## Information systems and evaluations we have delivered. - [NRC](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/nrc-information-management-handbook/): A handbook of information management practices and standards for programmes. - [WHO](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/who-enhancing-whos-health-emergencies-management-suite-hems-with-advanced-features/): Event publishing, a map and user statistics added to an emergency platform. - [Tropical Health](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/tropical-health-malaria-survey-data-visualization/): A Kobo household questionnaire, synced to a Power BI dashboard. - [Work on the API refactor and training materials of a child protection system.](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/unicef-por-tus-derechos-building-a-unified-digital-framework-for-childrens-rights-in-mexico/) - [Première Urgence Internationale](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/pui-strengthening-complementarity-between-rapid-response-mechanisms-and-anticipatory-action-in-far-north-cameroon/): A diagnostic, an operational roadmap and a multi-year localisation plan. - [UNICEF Mexico](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/public-information-system-for-children-and-adolescents-protection/): A public KPI site and its admin tool, with data by municipality and year. - [ITCILO](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/itc-ilo-evaluation-of-training-activities-on-social-protection-2025/): An external evaluation of a year of training, with five case studies. - [NRC](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/nrc-information-management-data-standardization/): A Python workflow that scans and classifies country office forms. - [Expertise France](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/expertise-france-structuring-automating-and-visualising-the-meal-data-system-for-the-efor-project/): Regional collection files, a central indicator matrix and a dashboard. - [Danish Refugee Council](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/drc-meal-toolbox-for-anticipatory-action/): A MEAL manual, indicator repository and framework for anticipatory action. In their words > The support in developing the MEAL Toolbox went above and beyond the expectations I had going into the project. With a bit more internal work this will hopefully become a cornerstone for measuring and expanding the use of anticipatory action in DRC. > > Alexander Kjaerum, Global Advisor, Senior Analyst, Danish Refugee Council [See the project](https://reliefapplications.org/projects/drc-meal-toolbox-for-anticipatory-action/) ## We agree the standards before anyone collects a form. ### Data standards: Over 1,500 forms, sorted against one standard. NRC’s country offices each built their own forms. We gathered them, in English, French, Arabic and Ukrainian, and a Python workflow compared their data points with the global data standards. - Forms in KoBo, ODK, SurveyCTO or CommCare - Indicator definitions your offices share - Quality checks as data comes in ### Indicators: Each activity tied to an indicator. For Expertise France, a central matrix links the activities in the regional files to the indicators the project reports on. ### Evaluations: Judged against the six OECD-DAC criteria. Relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, with mixed methods behind each question. ### Mixed methods: Three sources for one finding. For ITCILO: a survey of over 1,800 participants, interviews with staff and clients, and focus groups with learners. ### Shared practice: A handbook agreed by 14 organisations. NRC’s information management handbook was written with a working group of 14 humanitarian actors. ### Dashboards: Fed straight from the forms. Household data from Kobo, synced to Power BI, across 3 provinces of Mozambique. ## A data team that has worked in the field. Information managers and evaluators set the indicators and the questions, and our analysts and developers run the statistics and dashboards. ## Relief One: ERP for social impact organisations. Relief One is our own modular ERP. Two of its modules cover the ground of this page in one system: field data collection and MEAL. - [Explore Relief One](https://reliefapplications.org/relief-one/) - [Build yours](https://reliefapplications.org/relief-one/build/) - [Field Data Collection](https://reliefapplications.org/relief-one/field-data/): Offline mobile forms that feed your indicators. Survey answers that go straight from the phone to the indicator tracker. - [MEAL](https://reliefapplications.org/relief-one/meal/): Show what changed, and how you know. Every indicator against its target, with the evidence behind it. ## We start from the tools and questions you already have. 1. Map what exists: We review your forms, tools and reports, and agree the questions to answer. 2. Agree the indicators: Worked out with your teams, from the logframe and reporting template you already answer to. 3. Collect the data: Forms, surveys and interviews, with quality checks as data comes in. 4. Read the results: Statistics and thematic coding for a study. Dashboards for the indicators your managers follow. 5. Hand over: We train your staff to run the tools themselves. ## Before you get in touch. ### What drives the cost? The number of offices, forms and dashboards, or for a study the method and the time in the field. As a guide, an external evaluation of a year of training courses took two months, and an information management handbook took six. After a first call, we send a written proposal with the steps, the people, the timeline and the cost. ### Do you come to the field? Set-up and analysis run remotely. Field training, surveys with trained enumerators and field visits can run on site, and we plan them with you in the proposal. ### Can you work in French or other languages? Yes. We have run bilingual training, worked with forms in English, French, Arabic and Ukrainian, and adapt questionnaires to the local language with your team. ### Who owns the data and what you build? We work in your own accounts wherever we can, so the data stays with you. Ownership of any code, the data and the report is set in the contract. ### Can you work inside our donor’s framework? Yes. We start from the logframe, indicators and reporting template you already answer to, and build the forms and tools around them. ## Often combined with. One team works across all of them. - [Mobile, Web Dev & Maintenance](https://reliefapplications.org/services/app-dev-and-maintenance/): When a spreadsheet or a form is no longer enough, our developers build the platform that holds the data. - [Privacy & Cybersecurity](https://reliefapplications.org/services/privacy-cybersecurity/): Survey and beneficiary data is personal data. We review how it is collected, stored and shared. - [Capacity Building & Training](https://reliefapplications.org/services/training-and-capacity/): Your staff learn to run the forms, the surveys and the dashboards themselves. Guides: [Monitoring and evaluation tools for NGOs](https://reliefapplications.org/resources/monitoring-and-evaluation-tools-for-ngos/) / [KoboToolbox to Power BI](https://reliefapplications.org/resources/kobotoolbox-power-bi-dashboard/) ## Tell us about your project. Where you are, what you need and by when. A consultant will write back with questions and next steps. 1. Write to us: Three fields are required. The rest helps us prepare. 2. A consultant replies: By email, at the address you give. 3. We talk it through: A first call about your needs and how we could help. Prefer email? contact@reliefapplications.org