Why Our Training Works
Transform complex donor requirements into funded projects and community results
Why do so many humanitarian and development projects struggle to show clear results?
In 1999, while training UNICEF staff in Nepal, I saw a painful disconnect: even UN professionals struggled to help their local partners succeed. Complex M&E systems collected data nobody understood. Reports failed to show real impact. Training focused on theory, not practical application.
That realization led me to start ELD Impact in 2000—determined to provide practical training that actually works: from proposal writing to project management, M&E to strategic planning, all focused on real-world application and results.
- Neil Kendrick, Founder
Success Story: Last year, a small NGO in Bangladesh used our proposal framework to secure their first major grant—$200,000 for clean water. They'd been rejected 5 times before our training.
Why Choose ELD Impact
Over 25 years, we've developed and refined an approach we call Empowered Learning Design (ELD). It blends structured training methodologies with participatory techniques, all focused on what actually works in the field.
Here's what makes it work:
- We simplify without dumbing down. Complex frameworks become practical tools. Whether it's a logical framework or MEAL system, we break it down into clear, actionable steps you can actually use. You build a toolkit that works across contexts.
- We ground our courses in project realities. Case studies reflect real field challenges—from sudden donor requirement changes to community resistance. You'll see your own struggles in our materials and learn strategies to solve them.
- You work on your actual projects. Bring your proposal draft, your messy M&E data, your problematic logframe. In coached programs and team training, you'll fix real work while you learn.
- Adaptive thinking beats rigid manuals. Contexts shift. Donors change priorities. Communities surprise you. We teach you to think, adapt, and respond to what's actually happening—not just follow templates that break in the field.
- You learn from peers facing similar challenges. Share experiences with people who understand your context. Solutions come from those who've been there, not just instructors.
- You gain the confidence to lead. Participants leave knowing what to do when challenges arise. They guide their teams through difficulties, share new approaches, and create ripple effects across their organizations—because they own the skills.
I wish I had taken this training sooner. Now - whether in writing a sentence, a report or a proposal - I have a 'magic skill'. This is the best job-related training I have ever had.
From Start-Up to Global Impact
Founded in 2000 in Nepal on a shoestring budget of just $5,000 USD, ELD Impact has delivered training from Bangkok to Nairobi to Manchester to Washington. Our simple principle: provide training that actually works in the field. Along the way we have:
- Developed Nepali facilitators who went on to train internationally
- UNICEF adopted our Reporting Skills Toolkit for global use
- Delivered transformative training across ASEAN, SAARC, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and North America
- Pioneered online humanitarian training that matches workshop quality
Today, our participants praise our practical approach because we deliver on our promise: skills that get results.
What Participants Say
Post-training evaluations show why participants often call this "the best training they've ever had"
These ratings reflect why our flexible online approach delivers better results than traditional workshops:
"I wish I had taken this training sooner. Now - whether in writing a sentence, a report or a proposal - I have a 'magic skill'. This is the best job-related training I have ever had."
- Training Participant, Sasakawa Africa
Our participants consistently report breakthrough moments that transform their professional capabilities.
"The course is a game-changer. I am already applying the things I have learned and I have started seeing the difference."
- M.M., World Food Program Somalia
Everything you learn can be applied the next day. Like when Oxfam participants planned their tsunami response during our workshop—real work, real results.
"Neil lets the participants have in-depth knowledge of the course. The way it's designed and conducted really helps grasp the subject matter."
- Kanchan Ojha, WWF Nepal
Complex concepts become clear through expert facilitation that adapts to your specific context and challenges.
Do Online Workshops Really Work?
We understand what you're missing. Those intensive workshops—the energy, the focus, the connections. But research shows 70-90% of workshop learning is forgotten within a week. Our blended online approach changes this: participants retain 80-95% after a month through case studies, discussions, and real application—that's 3-4x better retention.
Our coached programs (4 weeks, 90-minute weekly sessions) give you the best of both worlds: live group energy plus time between sessions to apply what you're learning. This spaced approach, combined with peer sharing that yields 90% retention, transforms knowledge into lasting skills.
For self-paced learners, our self-study courses provide the same quality content and frameworks. While independent learning requires more self-direction, our new Impact Community bridges this gap. Each course has its own community (MEAL Impact Community, ToC Impact Community, etc.) where all participants—coached and self-study—can ask questions, share field experiences, and access recordings from live sessions. This ongoing support network keeps you engaged and applying what you learn long after the course ends.
The result? No travel costs, no project abandonment, and better retention because you're applying skills week by week to real work. As one participant noted: "My reports now drive program decisions instead of gathering dust."
The training was beyond our expectations. Neil inspired me and instilled confidence in me. I learned practical tools like the fog index for clearer writing and mind mapping for better planning.
Neil opened my eyes to critical issues of linking activities to results. His ability to deconstruct and demystify M&E made the training life-changing. RBM is now our tool for project evaluation across all 37 offices in Nigeria.
Accessible Pricing for All Organizations
We know budgets vary enormously across the humanitarian sector. That's why we offer two-tier pricing on an honesty basis. Larger organizations and UN agencies select the standard rate. Smaller NGOs and those from low-income countries choose the reduced rate. No forms, no proof required—we trust you.
"The reduced rate meant we could finally access quality training. It paid for itself with our first successful proposal." - Mohammad Rahman, Director, Community First Bangladesh
Courses start at $150 (reduced rate).
Looking Forward
The humanitarian sector evolves constantly, and so does the ELD Approach. We're integrating AI tools where they genuinely help (like proposal drafting) and continuously refining our methods based on participant feedback. Our new Impact Communities provide spaces for staying connected and sharing challenges and insights long after the training is 'over'.
Last month, participants from our MEAL training helped a Syrian refugee support organization restructure their monitoring system, leading to more responsive programming for 2,000 beneficiaries. This is what drives us—knowing that better skills lead to better outcomes for communities worldwide.
With the ELD Approach, you're not just taking a course. You're joining a movement of professionals who believe that with the right tools and support, we can all deliver better results for the communities we serve.
Can you afford to wait?
Every month of ineffective reporting, rejected proposals, and underutilized data is a month of missed opportunities and community impact. Most participants see returns within their first project cycle—better proposals funded, reports that drive decisions, M&E data that actually improves programs.
Check our upcoming courses for availability—spaces fill quickly as we limit cohorts to ensure quality interaction and personalized feedback.
Even applying a small part of what you learn will more than pay for the training—whether that's through a clearer theory of change, better risk management, or your next proposal getting approved.
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