On 11 June 2025, the Civic Resource Centre (CRC), in cooperation with the organisation Kobo Inc., organised a training on digital data collection and management, intended for civil society organisations. Representatives from 26 organisations attended the training, where they had the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of KoboToolbox – a tool specifically designed for field data collection, even in conditions without internet connectivity.
Participants were introduced to the basics and advantages of digital data collection, which is increasingly replacing the traditional, manual process. New technologies enable faster and more efficient information gathering, with reduced errors, the ability to upload photos, real-time monitoring, and integration with platforms such as Excel, Power BI, and GIS.
“Digitization is no longer a choice but a necessity. Trainings like these are very useful for improving our internal processes,” said Ivana Serafimovska from the Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation (MEDF).
Trainer Boris Ristovski presented the main features of KoboToolbox, emphasizing its accessibility for non-profit organisations, offline functionality, multilingual support, and simple user interface. Additionally, he introduced various resources available to users: a Help Center, global forum, a self-learning academy, and a network of ambassadors offering support worldwide.
A practical session followed, where participants worked directly with the tool using real-life examples. Suared Alishan from the Coalition for Advocacy of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities “We Change” shared their experience: “Through this training, I gained knowledge about the capabilities and application of the tool. It offers a modern way of collecting and processing data, which can later be used to develop ideas for new projects. The training inspired me to initiate a research project on accessibility for persons with disabilities.”
The training was organised under the project “EU Support to the Civil Society Resource Center – Phase 2,” funded by the European Union and implemented by the National Civil Society Resource Foundation – Civic Resource Centre, the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC), Media Plus from Štip, and the Association for Democratic Initiatives – ADI from Gostivar, in cooperation with Kobo Inc.
