Introduction

Mobile data collection has transformed how organizations gather, manage, and analyze field data. EpiCollect is a powerful, open-source mobile and web-based platform that enables efficient, low-cost, and real-time data collection using smartphones and tablets. Donor-funded and humanitarian programs are increasingly required to demonstrate responsible data management, data protection, and ethical use of beneficiary information. Mobile data collection systems must therefore comply with donor, legal, and humanitarian data protection standards while ensuring data quality and operational efficiency.

This training equips participants with practical skills to use EpiCollect for secure, ethical, and compliant mobile data collection, aligned with donor data management frameworks, humanitarian accountability standards, and data protection regulations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

1. Design donor-compliant mobile data collection systems using EpiCollect
2. Apply humanitarian and donor data protection principles
3. Implement data minimization, informed consent, and confidentiality measures
4. Ensure secure data collection, storage, and transfer
5. Apply data quality assurance and validation controls
6. Manage geospatial and sensitive beneficiary data responsibly
7. Prepare datasets for donor reporting, audits, and evaluations

Important Dates
Classroom Training Calendar

Online Training Calendar

Course Outline

Day 1: Mobile Data Collection in Donor-Funded & Humanitarian Contexts

• Role of data in humanitarian and donor-funded programs
• Risks associated with mobile data collection
• Introduction to EpiCollect (EpiCollect5)
• Data lifecycle: collection, storage, use, sharing, disposal
• Donor data responsibility and accountability principles
• Case studies from humanitarian and development programs

Day 2: Designing Donor-Compliant Data Collection Tools

• Designing ethical and compliant questionnaires
• Data minimization and purpose limitation
• Informed consent and participant rights
• Form validation and quality controls
• GPS and multimedia data risks and mitigation
• Practical exercise: designing a donor-compliant form

Day 3: Secure Mobile Data Collection & Field Operations

• Secure use of mobile devices
• Offline and online data collection risks
• Enumerator training on data protection
• Managing access to mobile devices and accounts
• Data synchronization and secure transmission
• Incident reporting and data breach response
• Field simulation with compliance checklist

Day 4: Data Management, Protection & Quality Assurance

• Data cleaning and validation
• Access control and role-based permissions
• Managing sensitive and personally identifiable information (PII)
• Anonymization and pseudonymization techniques
• Secure storage and backup strategies
• Ethical data sharing and data use agreements
• Preparing datasets for donor audits and evaluations

Day 5: Data Export, Reporting & Compliance Integration

• Exporting data securely from EpiCollect
• Integrating with: M&E systems, GIS platforms, Statistical analysis tools
• Data visualization and reporting for donors
• Compliance documentation and audit trails
• Developing a data management and protection plan (DMP)
• Course review and action planning

Targeted Participants

This training is designed for:

• Humanitarian and NGO Program Staff
• Monitoring & Evaluation Officers
• Data and Information Management Officers
• Research and Assessment Teams
• GIS and Spatial Data Analysts
• Government Field Data Officers
• Donor-Funded Project Teams

Key Benefits for Donor-Funded Organizations

• Improved donor compliance and accountability
• Reduced data protection and privacy risks
• Higher data quality and reliability
• Ethical and responsible data use
• Enhanced trust with beneficiaries and stakeholders

Key Donor & Data Protection Frameworks Covered

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) – principles and applicability
• UN Personal Data Protection and Privacy Principles
• EU GDPR & EU-funded project data requirements
• IASC Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility
• OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data – Data Responsibility Guidelines
• Do No Harm & Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)