Imagine1day successfully conducted an intensive Power BI training from August 26 – 30, 2026, bringing together 24 MEAL and program staff from the Country Office and regional offices to strengthen organizational capacity in data analysis, visualization, and evidence-based decision-making and reporting.
The training, prepared by the Imagine1day MEAL team and hosted at Bishoftu, Oromia, Ethiopia, combined instructor-led sessions with practical, hands-on learning supported through Imagine1day’s Moodle Learning Management System. Designed around a continuous Imagine1day MEAL case study, the training enabled participants to progress through the complete Power BI workflow from cleaning, preparing, and transforming raw data to building trusted data models, developing DAX measures, and creating interactive management dashboards. Participants also learned how to publish, refresh, secure, and govern Power BI reports to support organizational reporting and decision-making.
Approximately 75 percent of the facilitated learning time was dedicated to practical exercises, allowing participants to apply new skills using realistic program datasets. Throughout the course, participants developed interactive dashboards that visualized program performance, beneficiary reach, inclusion indicators, and data-quality metrics, while strengthening their understanding of data modelling and reporting best practices.
The training concluded with a practical assessment and regional team presentations, during which participants demonstrated how Power BI can transform complex datasets into clear, actionable insights for program management and reporting. Teams presented dashboards highlighting key findings, data-quality issues, and recommended management actions to improve program performance.
During the closing ceremony, Dr. Halefom Gezaei, Chief Program Officer at Imagine1day, emphasized the strategic importance of integrating Power BI into Imagine1day’s day-to-day operations. He noted that the platform is more than a reporting tool; it is an essential system for strengthening data quality, improving the reliability of organizational information, and enabling metrics-based reporting that supports timely, evidence-informed decision-making. He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained throughout the training to strengthen monitoring, accountability, and organizational learning across all programs and operations.
The intensive training forms part of Imagine1day’s ongoing investment in strengthening MEAL systems and promoting a culture of evidence-based planning, performance monitoring, and adaptive management. By enhancing the capacity of staff from both the Country Office and regional offices, the organization is strengthening its ability to generate timely insights, improve data quality, and support evidence-based decision-making across its programs.
As the 24 participants return to their respective teams, they will apply their new knowledge to improve reporting processes, build interactive dashboards, and provide decision-makers with timely, reliable data that supports better planning, implementation, and program impact.