From Data to Decisions: Professional Report Writing

Transform complex data into clear, compelling reports for donors, stakeholders, and strategic decision-making. Online certificate course.

Free for Academy members | Go to Academy

Self-Study Certificate Course
Start: Immediate Access
Time: Typically 20-30 hours to complete

Turning Data Into Decisions

Reports can turn complex data into actionable insights that support decision-making and M&E. Yet too often, they fail to drive meaningful action. When reporting falls short, you face:

  • Overwhelm when facing mountains of data without clear structure
  • Critical insights buried in lengthy documents no one reads
  • Outcomes and lessons learned not captured systematically
  • Donor concerns about progress and achievements
  • Communities affected when decisions aren't grounded in evidence

This course delivers a proven system to transform overwhelming data into clear, structured reports that drive M&E and inform decisions. With a systematic approach to reporting, you can:

  • Manage complex reports without deadline stress
  • Deliver reports that demonstrate project achievements and progress
  • Enhance M&E by measuring progress, capturing lessons, and recommending action
  • Build donor confidence through transparent, professional documentation
  • Support strategic decision-making across all levels

How You'll Learn

This self-paced course combines video lessons, practical exercises, and assessments:

  • Video presentations with downloadable transcripts and handouts
  • Practical templates and tasks for immediate application
  • Reflection exercises to adapt concepts to your context
  • End-of-module knowledge checks
  • Certificate upon completion

Course developed and presented by Neil Kendrick, founder of ELD Impact, with 25+ years of experience training humanitarian professionals across 20+ countries

Program Overview

Click any module to see content

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Welcome to the Course
2 lessons
  • Getting Started
  • Pre-Course Self-Assessment: Rate Your Current Skills
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Introduction to Professional Writing
7 lessons
  • Resources
  • What is Professional Writing?
  • Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?
  • Writing Tells Others Who We Are
  • The Writing Process
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Setting Reporting Objectives
10 lessons
  • Resources
  • Reporting Skills Objectives
  • Setting Objectives & Planning for Data Collection
  • Responsibilities of the Reporter
  • The Four Levels of Evaluation
  • Working with Templates
  • Deconstructing Evaluations
  • Deconstructing Monitoring Reports
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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The Art of Writing Clearly
9 lessons
  • Resources
  • Measuring Clarity: The Fog Index
  • Tools and Exercises for Improving Clarity Part 1
  • Tools and Exercises for Improving Clarity Part 2
  • Tools and Exercises for Improving Clarity Part 3
  • Professional Writing: Recap
  • Solutions to Tasks & Exercises
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Data Collection & Analysis
11 lessons
  • Resources
  • Data Collection Methods
  • Data Collection Considerations & Extended Task
  • Analysis & Interpretation of Quantitative Data
  • The 3 Steps of Analysis
  • Step 1: Familiarisation
  • Step 2: Organization & Control
  • Using Mind Mapping for Data Management
  • Describing the Data
  • Step 3: Synthesizing Information
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Organizing Your Ideas in Writing
8 lessons
  • Resources
  • Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning
  • Organizing Your Main Points Effectively
  • Writing Paragraphs That Persuade
  • Topic Sentence Exercises
  • Extended Exercise
  • Solutions to Tasks & Exercises
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Planning and Drafting Your Report
9 lessons
  • Resources
  • Subject-Purpose-Reader Analysis & Reader Profiling
  • Creating a Report Structure
  • Mapping the Report
  • Recap of the Writing Process
  • Drafting the Introduction (Practical)
  • Drafting the Main Body (Practical)
  • Drafting Conclusions and Recommendations (Practical)
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Language, Style & Editing
6 lessons
  • Resources
  • Keeping Your Reader's Interest
  • Tools for Improving Style
  • How to Edit Like a Pro (& Extended Exercise)
  • Professional Writing: Summary of Key Learning
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
+
Document Presentation
5 lessons
  • Resources
  • Editing in Practice
  • Design & Layout - General Principles
  • Design & Layout - Visual
  • Progress Assessment
  • Reflection & Application
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Wrapping Up
6 lessons
  • Resources
  • Extra Case Study Walkthrough - Workshop Reports
  • Review of Key Points
  • Final Self-Assessment: Reflect on Your Progress
  • Integration and Implementation
  • Course Discussion Forum
  • Your Next Steps

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