Overview
Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager
Work location: Mwanza
Trees for the Future
Who We Are:
At Trees for the Future (TREES), we think that farmers have the ability to change the world. For over 30 years, we’ve been a global leader in agroforestry training, working with farming families to create thriving economies, sustainable food systems, and healthy ecosystems. Farmers use our unique Forest Garden Approach, a tried-and-true nature-based solution, to rehabilitate their land, plant thousands of trees, and grow a variety of crops, breaking cycles of climate change and poverty. Farmers are regaining their agency and generating new opportunities for their families, communities, and the environment. TREES is active in Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, having planted approximately 350 million trees to date. Joining our enthusiastic, collaborative team means empowering farmers to lead long-term change for people and the environment.
The TREES began operations in Tanzania in 2015. We work with farmers and the government in five critical regions of mainland Tanzania: Mwanza, Simiyu, Singida, Tabora, and Iringa. We’ve contacted 11 district councils: Magu, Bariadi, Busega, Kilolo, Iringa Municipal, Uyui, Urambo, Mkalama, Iramba, Singida DC, and Ikungi. Through these initiatives, we make a substantial contribution to long-term food security, environmental conservation, healthy ecosystems, and poverty reduction at the family level. Farmers that use the Forest Garden Approach are leading the way toward sustainable development and generating greater futures for their communities.
The Role Purpose:
The MEL Manager will oversee the execution of TREES’ Tanzania Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning strategy. The Manager, who reports to the Country Director, will ensure the quality design of data collection tools, quality assurance of data collected and analysed, and the development and application of frameworks to track project progress and contribute to measuring and reporting collective impact in accordance with Verra’s Verified Carbon and Climate Community Biodiversity (CCB) Standards, as described in VM-0047.
The MEL Manager will be in charge of MEL’s day-to-day operations in Tanzania. She/he will oversee the qualitative and quantitative routine and periodic data collecting, as well as build successful procedures for timely reporting and supporting learning processes connected to the TREES Forest Garden program and future carbon monitoring projects. This job will work closely with the Field Operations Senior Manager, field teams, data analysts, and program staff to ensure that data is collected, analyzed, and used for program enhancement. The job holder will supervise two MEL officers.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create and implement effective data collection, tracking, and reporting mechanisms to monitor activity outputs and quality project interventions.
- Oversee data collection, coding, analysis, and interpretation; collaborate with local consultants or businesses; and lead the primary data gathering efforts depending on the project needs, including study and tool design.
- Educate and guide project personnel in the application of MEL techniques and data gathering instruments.
- Promote knowledge management by disseminating project evaluations and lessons gained, as well as by using information and evidence to quickly modify programming.
- Gain a comprehensive grasp of the project’s stakeholder needs, data processing protocols, and data gathering capabilities.
- Over the course of the project, effectively monitor, evaluate, report, and update goals, actions, indicators, and outcomes to ensure they align with the project work plan.
- To ensure that the data collected from the project is reliable and relevant to project outcomes, and make timely adjustments to better serve project objectives and priorities.
- To lead the provision of technical assistance by creating and implementing systems for the timely collection, management, analysis, and reporting of valid and reliable data that meets national and TREES reporting standards.
- To take the lead in ensuring that MEL activities for the projects are comprehensively planned and budgeted.
- To collaborate with MEL and technical project teams to ensure real-time data collection from project stakeholders, utilizing ICT-enabled solutions as needed.
- Make sure that data gathering practices meet ethical standards, including acquiring government research permits.
- To collaborate with the MEL team in the central office to ensure the efficient implementation of TREES’ Global MEL agenda.
- To contribute to the program’s narrative reporting by assessing data in Performance Measurement Frameworks and work plans and ensuring they are results-oriented.
- To provide coordination assistance in the implementation of the country’s work plan by creating and utilizing high-quality data for decision-making.
- To provide continuous technical support to the field team by conducting regular coaching, data quality audits, and monitoring visits to verify data collection and reporting compliance and correctness.
- In a timely way, escalate any significant issues or hazards encountered during MEL activities to the Country Director.
- Provide technical field staff with training and refresher workshops on MEL systems and data gathering tools.
- Assist MEL representatives on site visits or donor calls by preparing documentation and outlining monitoring processes and metrics.
Who You Are:
An passionate supporter of TREES’ mission and beliefs. You are enthusiastic about improving livelihoods through agroforestry. You involve farmers in all decisions, ensuring that initiatives have a real impact on communities and the environment.
An action-oriented MEL specialist. Your collaborative approach is evident as you train field personnel on all MEL systems and apps, evaluate all acquired data, and deliver the findings to leadership.
You are an effective and capable technical trainer. You display great leadership by creating and delivering thorough training programs for field personnel on all Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems and applications, assuring their proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
You are a communication expert. Your outstanding communication skills and ability to develop relationships make you an effective team member who seeks methods to convey knowledge in a way that is memorable and easily understood.
You realize what details are important, and you get them right. You seek for methods to make systems simpler, more efficient, and user-friendly. You may translate your vision into tactical next steps.
An effective problem solver. You overcome problems at work by identifying them, responding to new information, and proactively developing solutions. When you make goals, you act before everyone else and hold yourself accountable.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Master’s degree or international equivalent in development studies, social sciences, M&E, demography, gender studies, or statistics, preferably with an emphasis on M&E.
- A minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing M&E in national/international development initiatives run by NGOs, UN organizations, or the government.
- The experience managing real-time end-to-end data management systems and solutions, along with demonstrated ICT skills, particularly in the use of Android technology and web-based databases.
- The experience in developing and overseeing the deployment of data gathering tools and systems for data entry, analysis, and storage.
- Experience in adaptive management, iterative monitoring and evaluation, and effective feedback loops to ensure data is used in strategic and programmatic decision-making.
- To advance knowledge and proficiency with quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools (statistical packages) (e.g., SPSS, STATA, NVIVO, etc.) is advantageous.
- The experience using digital data collection technologies.
- Understanding of GIS systems.
- The experience with remote support or a willingness to develop successful remote facilitation and support techniques.
- The excellent report-writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation abilities.
- Fluent in both written and spoken English.
- The ability to travel regularly, troubleshoot in rural places, and communicate with smallholder farmers.
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS:
TREES is an international organization that aims to provide the finest work environment for employees who wish to positively impact the farmers we serve. We feel that our staff’s diversity helps to achieve excellence. TREES supports cooperation and teamwork, which encourages greater participation and innovation for professional development.
We provide a multicultural, collegial work atmosphere with competitive pay, full medical insurance, workers’ compensation, and generous paid time off, including annual and sick leave.
HOW TO APPLY:
If this opportunity appeals to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter explaining why TREES’ work interests you and why this role is a good fit for you, and 2) your CV. Submit it by August 15th, 2025. Ensure that both documents are shared as PDFs. We assess 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 any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
We welcome and value different skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders that take pride in representing a diverse range of national, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, gender, and other identities. Our community’s variety is our strength, allowing us to be empathic, visionary, and effective leaders.
Due to the large number of applications submitted, only those selected for an interview will be notified.