2 jobs in Trees for the Future
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Senior Manager
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Who We Are
At Trees for the Future (TREES), we believe farmers have the power to transform the world. For over 30 years, we've been a global leader in agroforestry training, partnering with farming families to build vibrant economies, sustainable food systems, and thriving ecosystems. Through our signature Forest Garden Approach—a proven nature-based solution—farmers restore their land, plant thousands of trees, and grow diverse crops, breaking cycles of climate change and generational poverty. By reclaiming their agency, farmers are creating new possibilities for their families, communities, and the environment. Active in Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, TREES has planted over 350 million trees to date. Joining our passionate, collaborative team means empowering farmers to lead lasting change for people and the planet.
In Kenya, we are transforming landscapes and livelihoods across the Lake Victoria Watershed in three key regions. With over 160 staff working on the ground, we collaborate with more than 20,000 farmers to implement the Forest Garden Approach. This initiative, in partnership with Catona Climate, is pending a Carbon Market verification, allowing farmers to benefit from carbon financing while restoring their land. Learn more at
*. *
*THE ROLE *
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Senior Manager will supervise, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate all aspects of TREES' Kenya Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning strategy. The successful candidate will actively contribute to the design and implementation of robust frameworks to track progress, measure & report collective impact in compliance with Verra's Verified Carbon and Climate Community Biodiversity Standards. They will also facilitate organizational learning around carbon and monitoring the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Carbon Project.
Responsibilities
In compliance with the standards of Verra and TREES, develop surveys, SOPs, and training frameworks, and manage the execution of:
Baseline assessments
- Household Community Surveys
- GIS ecosystem
Salesforce Farmer Database and TaroWorks data collection system
Apply TREES Adaptive Management Plan for short term and long-term monitoring to make ongoing adjustments and annual changes as needed to effectively achieve targets.
- Monitor and evaluate overall progress on achievement of targets and goals. This involves coordinating field monitoring and evaluation activities with the MEL Director.
- Develop the annual MEL plan and budget in collaboration with Program team and lead the dissemination of MEL activities.
- Cultivate relationships with local universities and relevant professional institutions.
- Recruit, train, and manage Interns during periods of high data collection activity.
- Notify field staff of upcoming data collection activities, its processes, and content.
- Report monthly, quarterly, and annual progress on all project activities to the Country Director. This also included tracking project data and communicating key metrics to project staff.
- Provide feedback to the Country Director and Program Managers on data trends and progress toward targets.
- Develop training, quality control processes and planning for all data collection (Baseline Field Area Measurement, Carbon Monitoring, Household Survey Bioacoustics Monitoring and Polygon taking) activities.
- Notify the Country Director of issues and risks encountered during MEL-related activities.
- Train field staff on all MEL systems and applications for data collection. This includes offering periodical refresher training on upcoming surveys and data collection activities to the technical field staff.
- Ensure quality control, analyze all collected data, and present results to the Country Program team.
- Provide monthly oversight and approval of project activity data reported by Project Officers through an internal, digital reporting system.
- Work closely with Program Managers and Training Team to ensure the Monthly Lead Farmer data collection is recorded and insights are conveyed in a timely manner for course correction as needed.
- Serve on steering committees with other departments to determine efficiencies in managing inventory, IT, etc.
- Participate in investors/donor/third party auditor calls and site visits to convey MEL processes, metrics, and standards giving confidence in our systems.
Who You Are
- An enthusiastic advocate for TREES' mission and values. You are passionate about improving livelihoods through agroforestry. You center farmers in every decision, ensuring projects drive real impact for communities and the environment.
- An action-oriented MEL professional. Your collaborative approach is evident as you train field staff on all MEL systems and applications, analyze all collected data, and present results to leadership.
- You are a strong and capable technical trainer. You demonstrate strong leadership by designing and delivering comprehensive training programs for field staff on all Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems and applications, ensuring their proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- You are a communication ninja. Your strong communication skills and relationship-building abilities make you an effective team member who looks for ways to relay information, so it sticks and is easily understood.
- A detail-oriented executor with a systems mindset. You understand what details matter, and you get them right. You look for ways to make systems simple, efficient, and user-friendly. You can turn a vision into tactical next steps.
- An adept problem solver. You overcome obstacles in your work by identifying them, adapting to new information, and proactively devising solutions. You take action before being asked and hold yourself accountable when you set goals.
Requirements
- A Bachelor's or a Master's degree in Statistics, Demographics, Public Policy, International Development, Economics, or a related field. Master's degree or bachelor's plus an advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, or economics preferred.
- At least 8 years of experience in the design and implementation of M&E in development projects implemented by national/international NGOs/UN bodies/government.
- Proven ICT skills, especially in the navigation of Android technology and web-based databases.
- An understanding of GIS systems.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Ability to travel frequently and troubleshoot in remote areas and converse with smallholder farmers.
Work Environment And Benefits
TREES is an International Organization that strives to be the best home for staff wanting to make an impact on the farmers we serve. We believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. TREES values collaboration and teamwork that fosters increased engagement and innovation for professional growth.
We offer a multicultural, collegial work environment with a competitive salary, comprehensive medical insurance, workers' compensation, and substantial paid time off, including annual leave and sick leave.
*APPLY
If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter that explains why TREES' work excites you and why this role is a fit for you; and 2) your resume. Submit this by
28
th
October 2025 *
Ensure both documents are shared as PDF documents. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Trees for the Future is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or other characteristics or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
We embrace and value diverse skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders who are proud to represent many different national, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, religious, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders.
*Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. *
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Central Tree Nurseries
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the strategic direction and operational efficiency of Trees for the Future's (TREES) Central Tree Nurseries (CTNs). The consultant will deliver technical and operational guidance to identify and resolve current constraints, optimize seedling production systems, and design a sustainable, cost-effective model for large-scale propagation and distribution. This model will emphasize high-quality fruit seedlings—particularly grafted varieties and other species that are difficult to produce at scale. The consultancy will also provide recommendations to ensure that nursery sites, capacity, staffing, and processes are fully aligned with the needs of smallholder farmers and the wider regional projects they support.
BACKGROUND & PROBLEM
Trees for the Future (TREES) is an international non-profit organization with a central office in the United States and five field offices in West and East Africa. As a global leader in agroforestry training for over 30 years, TREES works with small-holder farmers to implement restorative land management practices and agroforestry on their farms to revitalize degraded lands, increase food production, reduce the impacts of climate change, enhance technical skills, and the adaptive capacities of farmers. Our signature methodology, the
Forest Garden Approach
, helps farmers transform their land with thousands of trees and dozens of crops, improving livelihoods and food security for themselves and their communities.
Central Tree Nurseries (CTNs) are a foundational component of TREES Forest Garden projects, tasked with supplying high-quality grafted fruit tree seedlings to tens of thousands of farmers in the program areas. These seedlings are vital for establishing fruit orchards within forest gardens that serve multiple objectives: enhancing household income, improving nutritional outcomes, and contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and storage.
However, critical operational and structural issues have undermined the CTNs' ability to meet their tree production and distribution targets. This shortfall has delayed fruit production and resulted in delayed achievements and impact. Because tree planting is seasonal and rain-dependent, issues during one cycle result in a year-long delay, compressing the program's timeline and threatening its ability to meet its objectives according to schedule.
Root causes of challenges faced by CTNs include unreliable water access (e.g., drying boreholes, lack of water tanks), inadequate nursery infrastructure (e.g. shade nets, quality tools, and specifications of tree sacks), ), seed sourcing challenges (seed quality, quantity, and timing, which affects germination rates and seedling targets), challenges with input sourcing (e.g. soil, seeds, scions), and seedling growth challenges (e.g. soil health, seedling vitality, pest and disease). Grafting success rates are low due to poor timing, delay in procurement processes, improper techniques, lack of environmental control, inadequate aftercare, and insufficient operator training. CTNs struggle to meet production demands, largely due to limited technical capacity, poor pest and disease management, and challenges with distribution systems. To realign with its strategic goals, the program urgently requires targeted support to assess and address these issues.
SCOPE OF WORK
TREES currently works in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Mali. This consultancy will focus on project areas in East Africa only, though the findings and deliverables are expected to inform CTN operations in West Africa as well. Specifically, the areas of focus for this consultancy are Eastern Uganda (Mbale/Mt Elgon and Busoga areas), Western Kenya (Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties), and Northern Tanzania (Mwanza and Simiyu regions).
The consultancy will be carried out in the following phases:
Phase 1: Research
- Conduct a literature review on best practices for large-scale, low-cost production of high-quality fruit seedlings.
- Identify fruit tree species/varieties with good market potential by agro-ecological zone (AEZ). Map AEZs in the project areas within the study area described above, and determine species suitability by zone.
- Identify and conduct key informant interviews with experts from successful seedling production operations as well as TREES' CTN managers in the study area.
- Review and assess alternative nursery models, including those run by youth, women's groups, CBOs, or NGOs.
Phase 2: Technical and Operational Analysis of CTNs
- Visit and analyze current CTN setups, staffing, and operational successes and challenges within TREES projects.
- Identify the expertise and staffing requirements for efficient nursery operations and meeting set targets.
- Recommend appropriate nursery site locations, seedling capacities, and species to balance economies of scale and accessibility.
- Review and assess input sources including scions, seeds, suitable soil amendments (e.g. compost, bagasse, etc).
- Assess and recommend tree sack composition/specifications, options, and suppliers, emphasizing biodegradable materials.
- Review and recommend practical and effective pest management and phytosanitary protocols, with a focus on low-cost, organic solutions.
Phase 3: Strategic Planning and Documentation
- Develop a species-specific production plan and schedule aligned with the agricultural calendar for each country in the study area.
- Outline operational procedures for siting and establishing CTNs.
- Outline operational procedures for seedling production from input sourcing, to propagation, to distribution for outplanting.
- Recommend a staffing structure and training needs to sustain quality production.
- Propose a monitoring and evaluation framework for nursery performance.
- Propose a production timeline that ensures grafted fruit tree seedlings are available at the start of the long rains for farmer outplanting.
- Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all key processes in CTN operations.
DELIVERABLES
- Inception report detailing the study's plan, approach, timeline, and budget.
- Literature review report on best practices in high-quality fruit tree seedling production.
- Key informant interview summary and insights from Kenya and Uganda.
- Breakdown of AEZs within the project area with suitable species projections and market opportunities.
- Analytical report on:
- Nursery site selection recommendations, including rationale and capacity estimates.
- Challenges and constraints in current CTNs.
- Cost and savings comparison of in-house vs private nursery seedlings.
- Staffing and expertise needs.
- Input sourcing plan and supply chain recommendations.
- Technical specifications for appropriate biodegradable tree sacks.
- Species-specific production plan and schedule aligned with the agricultural calendar.
- Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for CTNs (relevant to CTNs in all country programs).
- Final report synthesizing findings and recommendations, with an actionable roadmap for CTN optimization.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in agricultural science, biology, horticulture, forestry, or a related field or equivalent experience in high-quality fruit tree nusery operations and production.
- Significant experience with fruit tree nursery management, seedling production, grafting, especially for grafted fruit trees and high-value timber species.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth research and analyses, and strategic planning for agricultural production/agroforestry-based systems.
- Hands-on experience with fruit tree management (and experience working with smallholder farmers.
- Experience working in East Africa.
- Strong analytical, communication, and report writing skills.
- Experience developing actionable SOPs and technical documentation.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Interested individuals or firms must submit the following documents and information to demonstrate their interest, qualifications, and capacity. Please upload the documents listed above using the links for the resume and cover letter below. Submit your application by
EOD 12th September, 2025.
- CV(s) of consultant(s) or staff who will support the project.
- Cover letter demonstrating the individual or organization's competencies and experience with similar projects.
- Following the scope of work and deliverables, prepare a proposal that details the work plan, methodologies, and timeline (including a table breaking down the activities and number of days it will take to compete each of them) for completing the project.
- Prepare a budget and budget narrative based on the consultancy's proposed workplan to complete the scope of work and deliverables.
Proposals and budgets will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Personal qualifications (30 points)
- Methodology (20 points)
- Experience with similar assignments (20 points)
- Cost (30 points)
Any resulting contract will be subject to the terms and conditions of Trees for the Future. This is a request for proposal only and does not obligate Trees for the Future to execute a contract, nor does it commit Trees for the Future to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals.
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