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Structured Interviewing and Questioning Skills for Report Writers

Behind many reports lies an interview, whether with a witness, a client, a stakeholder or a colleague, and a poorly run conversation produces weak, unreliable content. This course teaches report writers across African organisations to plan and conduct structured interviews that gather accurate, usable information. Delegates practise questioning techniques, active listening and note taking that turn conversations into solid evidence for reports.

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Register for this course

What you will be able to do

  • Plan an interview around the information a report needs.
  • Ask open, probing and clarifying questions effectively.
  • Build rapport so people share accurate information.
  • Listen actively and capture answers reliably.
  • Avoid leading questions and common bias traps.
  • Turn interview notes into clear evidence for a report.

Course outline

  1. 01Planning the Interview
  2. 02Types of Questions and When to Use Them
  3. 03Building Rapport and Trust
  4. 04Active Listening and Following Up
  5. 05Avoiding Leading Questions and Bias
  6. 06Note Taking During Interviews
  7. 07Turning Notes into Evidence
  8. 08Practice Interviews and Feedback

Who should attend

This course is designed for report writers, investigators, researchers, analysts, auditors and programme staff who gather information through interviews and discussions.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
28 to 29 Sep 2026Nairobi2US$1,100Closed
29 to 30 Sep 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100Closed
30 Sep to 1 Oct 2026Kigali2US$1,100Closed
1 to 2 Oct 2026Kampala2US$1,100Closed
5 to 6 Oct 2026Accra2US$1,100Closed
6 to 7 Oct 2026Lagos2US$1,100Closed
7 to 8 Oct 2026Cairo2US$1,100Closed
8 to 9 Oct 2026Mauritius2US$1,100Closed
12 to 13 Oct 2026Dubai2US$1,100Closed
13 to 14 Oct 2026Online2US$900Register
24 to 25 Nov 2026Johannesburg2R10,000Register
25 to 26 Nov 2026Cape Town2R10,000Register
26 to 27 Nov 2026Durban2R10,000Register
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Pretoria2R10,000Register
1 to 2 Dec 2026Windhoek2US$1,100Register
2 to 3 Dec 2026Gaborone2US$1,100Register
3 to 4 Dec 2026Maseru2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Dec 2026Mbabane2US$1,100Register
8 to 9 Dec 2026Lusaka2US$1,100Register
9 to 10 Dec 2026Harare2US$1,100Register
10 to 11 Dec 2026Lilongwe2US$1,100Register
14 to 15 Dec 2026Blantyre2US$1,100Register
17 to 18 Dec 2026Mozambique2US$1,100Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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