Course Details

Automating Reporting with Open Source Tools Training Course: Streamlining Data to Insight Pipelines

Introduction
Reporting is essential for accountability, transparency, and decision-making across development and organizational contexts. However, manual reporting processes are time-consuming and error-prone. The Automating Reporting with Open Source Tools Training Course is designed to empower professionals to streamline and enhance their reporting workflows using powerful, cost-effective open-source tools. By automating repetitive tasks and generating real-time, accurate reports, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and focus on data-driven action.

This 10-day hands-on training introduces participants to tools such as Python, R, Jupyter Notebooks, and Metabase for report automation. It covers data cleaning, transformation, visualization, and scheduling of automated reports. Designed for NGOs, development agencies, and public sector teams, the course equips professionals with practical knowledge to build reporting pipelines that deliver timely and insightful outputs without recurring manual input.

Duration
10 Days

Target Audience
M&E officers, data analysts, IT staff, program managers, research assistants, and professionals responsible for generating regular reports or managing data in NGOs, public institutions, and donor-funded programs.

Course Objectives

• Understand core principles of automated reporting
• Learn to use open-source tools to automate data workflows
• Create dynamic and reusable reporting templates
• Improve data accuracy and report delivery timelines
• Build internal capacity for sustainable automation

Course Modules

1. Introduction to Reporting Automation and Open Source Tools

• Benefits of automating reports
• Overview of open-source options
• Key concepts in scripting and automation
• Examples of automation in development settings
• Installing and setting up tools

2. Preparing and Cleaning Data for Automation

• Importing datasets (CSV, Excel, databases)
• Cleaning and validating data using scripts
• Dealing with missing and duplicate values
• Data transformation techniques
• Saving cleaned data for reporting use

3. Automating Reports with Python and Pandas

• Introduction to Python and Pandas library
• Writing scripts for data summarization
• Creating reusable report templates
• Exporting reports to Excel and PDF
• Scheduling scripts using task schedulers

4. Visual Reporting with Jupyter Notebooks

• Setting up and navigating notebooks
• Combining code, visuals, and commentary
• Creating interactive reports
• Sharing notebooks with stakeholders
• Exporting to PDF and HTML

5. Introduction to R for Data Reporting

• Using R and RStudio for report generation
• Cleaning and summarizing data with tidyverse
• Automating report scripts
• Using RMarkdown for dynamic reporting
• Producing outputs in Word and HTML

6. Dashboard Automation with Metabase

• Connecting data sources to Metabase
• Creating automated charts and queries
• Designing interactive dashboards
• Sharing dashboards via link or embed
• Automating dashboard refresh schedules

7. Version Control and Collaboration with Git

• Introduction to Git and GitHub
• Tracking changes in scripts and templates
• Collaborative reporting workflows
• Managing versions of reports
• Hosting automation scripts online

8. Integrating Open Source Tools with Cloud Services

• Using Google Sheets and Google Apps Script
• Automating emails and report delivery
• Scheduling jobs using cloud platforms
• Managing cloud-based databases
• Ensuring secure data connections

9. Error Handling and Quality Assurance

• Identifying and fixing script errors
• Logging and debugging in Python/R
• Validating output accuracy
• Creating test cases for automation
• Documenting scripts and processes

10. Practical Projects and Implementation Planning

• Group project: automating a real-world report
• Customizing tools for organizational use
• Creating a rollout plan for automation
• Final presentation and peer feedback
• Certification and wrap-up

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com