How to Run a Reporting Month

This is the whole routine in one page. Do it once a month (or once per reporting period) and your report is nearly written before you start. Each step links to a short guide.

One-time first: the project must be Ready (donor template approved, logframe and indicators in place). If not, see Getting started.

Before the month starts

1. Create the periods. On Reporting, use Create all periods to set up the whole calendar in one click. See How to create a reporting period.
2. Check the template. Each report type uses its approved donor template automatically. To use another one, see How to change a report's template.

During the month (the field team)

1. Log each activity as it happens. One form: what happened, when, where, who came, and the proof files. Drop the files on the form; they join the activity and the right period by themselves. See How to log activities.
2. Add evidence later if you must. Open the activity and click Add evidence. See How to upload evidence.

End of the month (the M&E and project team)

1. Review activities. Accept them all at once, ask for a fix, or withdraw a duplicate. See How to review and accept activities.
2. Enter indicator values for the period and use Verify all. See How to update indicator values.
3. Verify evidence. See Evidence verification.
4. Tell the story (a few short questions). See How to tell the story.

Write and approve

1. Generate the draft. See How to generate an AI report draft.
2. Review in the editor. Follow the one big button at the top right. Fix or decide on flagged statements, read each section, approve. An approved section can still be edited: click Edit (reopens section). See How to use the report editor.
3. Clear the checks. Items that depend on your data close by themselves; the rest need a person. See How to use the compliance checklist.
4. Submit, approve and export. See How to review and approve reports and How to export reports.

At the end of the project

1. Create the closing report from its guided page. It covers the whole life of the project. See How to create the closing report.

A good rhythm

When	Who	What
As it happens	Field officers	Log activities with proof
Weekly	M&E officer	Accept activities, verify evidence
Month end	M&E officer	Indicator values, Verify all
Month end	Project manager	Story, draft, review, approve

If something looks wrong

Most problems have a simple fix: a wrong parent on an indicator (fix it), a duplicate activity (withdraw it), or the wrong template (change it). Nothing needs rebuilding.