Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

Humanitarian Research Methods Training Course

Course Overview

The Humanitarian Research Methods Training Course is designed to equip humanitarian professionals, researchers, government officials, development practitioners, monitoring and evaluation specialists, humanitarian information management officers, and academic researchers with the knowledge, practical skills, and strategic competencies required to design, conduct, analyze, and communicate high-quality humanitarian research. Evidence-based humanitarian action depends on rigorous research methodologies that generate reliable data for humanitarian needs assessments, policy development, program design, monitoring and evaluation, disaster risk reduction, protection programming, resilience building, and organizational learning. This course provides comprehensive training in Humanitarian Research Methods, quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed-methods research, humanitarian needs assessment, research design, survey methodology, sampling techniques, humanitarian data collection, digital research tools, GIS mapping, Artificial Intelligence (AI), research ethics, data analysis, scientific report writing, and evidence-based humanitarian programming to strengthen humanitarian preparedness, response, recovery, resilience, and sustainable development.

Participants will develop practical competencies in research proposal development, research design, literature review, hypothesis formulation, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, sampling design, questionnaire development, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, KoboToolbox, ODK, mobile data collection, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Artificial Intelligence applications, SPSS, R, STATA, NVivo, Power BI, Microsoft Excel, statistical analysis, qualitative coding, data visualization, humanitarian information management, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, scientific writing, publication strategies, and evidence-based decision-making. Through practical exercises, simulation scenarios, field-based research assignments, and real-world case studies, participants will strengthen their ability to design, implement, analyze, and disseminate humanitarian research that improves policy formulation, operational effectiveness, donor reporting, accountability, and organizational learning.

The course also explores internationally recognized research standards and humanitarian frameworks, including OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria, Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), Sphere Humanitarian Standards, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), international humanitarian law, ethical research principles, informed consent, safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), gender-responsive research, disability inclusion, localization, data protection regulations, institutional review processes, donor compliance, organizational governance, and research integrity. Participants will strengthen their understanding of ethical, inclusive, and scientifically rigorous humanitarian research systems that promote accountability, transparency, innovation, resilience, and evidence-based humanitarian decision-making.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to develop comprehensive humanitarian research proposals, design rigorous research methodologies, conduct quantitative and qualitative studies, utilize digital data collection technologies, apply GIS and AI for humanitarian research, perform advanced statistical and qualitative analysis, prepare high-quality research reports, strengthen evidence-based humanitarian programming, improve organizational learning, and develop sustainable humanitarian research systems that support policy development, program effectiveness, and humanitarian impact.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the principles, methodologies, and ethics of humanitarian research.
2. Design rigorous quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods humanitarian research studies.
3. Develop research proposals, sampling strategies, and data collection instruments.
4. Conduct digital humanitarian data collection using KoboToolbox, ODK, GIS, and mobile technologies.
5. Apply SPSS, R, STATA, NVivo, Power BI, and Artificial Intelligence for humanitarian research analysis.
6. Strengthen humanitarian information management, evidence generation, and policy analysis.
7. Promote ethical research practices, safeguarding, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
8. Improve scientific report writing, dissemination, and publication skills.
9. Support evidence-based humanitarian planning, monitoring, evaluation, and organizational learning.
10. Develop integrated Humanitarian Research Systems that strengthen humanitarian effectiveness and sustainable development.

Organizational Benefits

1. Strengthens institutional capacity to conduct high-quality humanitarian research.
2. Improves evidence-based planning, policy formulation, and decision-making.
3. Enhances monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and organizational learning.
4. Strengthens humanitarian information management and research data quality.
5. Improves donor reporting, proposal development, and funding competitiveness.
6. Enhances operational efficiency through digital research technologies.
7. Strengthens ethical research governance and safeguarding practices.
8. Promotes innovation through Artificial Intelligence, GIS, and advanced analytics.
9. Supports strategic planning, resilience, and humanitarian preparedness.
10. Builds sustainable research systems that improve humanitarian impact, transparency, and organizational excellence.

Target Participants

This course is designed for humanitarian researchers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, MEAL officers, humanitarian program managers, humanitarian information management officers, project managers, government planning officers, disaster management professionals, NGO staff, United Nations agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel, university researchers, research consultants, statisticians, GIS specialists, data analysts, policy makers, social scientists, public health researchers, development practitioners, civil society organizations, donor-funded project staff, graduate students, and professionals responsible for humanitarian research, evidence generation, policy development, monitoring, evaluation, and organizational learning.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Humanitarian Research Methods

• Principles of humanitarian research
• Research paradigms and methodologies
• Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research
• Research ethics and informed consent
• Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Sphere Standards
• Research planning and proposal development

General Case Study: Designing a humanitarian research proposal to assess the impact of drought on vulnerable communities and identify priority humanitarian interventions.

Module 2: Research Design and Digital Data Collection

• Research design and sampling techniques
• Questionnaire development
• Focus group discussions and key informant interviews
• KoboToolbox and ODK mobile data collection
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data quality assurance

General Case Study: Developing a digital field research system using mobile data collection tools and GIS mapping to collect high-quality humanitarian assessment data across multiple locations.

Module 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis

• SPSS, R, and STATA statistical analysis
• NVivo qualitative data analysis
• Artificial Intelligence applications
• Microsoft Power BI dashboards
• Data visualization and interpretation
• Humanitarian information management

General Case Study: Analyzing humanitarian research findings using statistical software and qualitative coding techniques to identify trends, vulnerabilities, and priority response actions.

Module 4: Research Reporting, Policy Analysis, and Accountability

• Scientific report writing
• Policy briefs and research dissemination
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
• Safeguarding and ethical reporting
• Evidence-based policy development

General Case Study: Preparing a humanitarian research report and policy brief that informs government agencies and humanitarian partners on emergency response priorities.

Module 5: Monitoring, Evaluation, Organizational Learning, and Research Utilization

• Monitoring and evaluation integration
• Organizational learning systems
• Donor reporting and compliance
• Knowledge management
• Research utilization in humanitarian programming
• Quality assurance and peer review

General Case Study: Evaluating the utilization of humanitarian research findings to improve program design, donor reporting, organizational learning, and operational effectiveness.

Module 6: Strategic Humanitarian Research and Future Innovations

• Strategic research planning
• Institutional research capacity strengthening
• Innovation in humanitarian research
• Artificial Intelligence and predictive analytics
• Emerging digital research technologies
• Future trends in humanitarian research methods

General Case Study: Developing a comprehensive Humanitarian Research Strategy integrating Artificial Intelligence, GIS, SPSS, NVivo, Power BI, digital data collection, humanitarian information management, monitoring and evaluation, organizational learning, and evidence-based decision-making to strengthen humanitarian preparedness and resilience.

General Information

1. Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.
2. Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.
3. Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.
4. Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).
5. Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.
6. Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.
7. Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.
8. Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.
9. Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.
10. Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.
11. Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.
12. Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.
13. Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.
14. Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.