Agroforestry Associate at One Acre Fund, Zomb, Malawi

The Agroforestry Program in Malawi focuses on distributing tree seedlings to farmers using a decentralized tree nursery model. We are now building a carbon and payment-for-ecosystem-services pilot as part of this program. The C&A Associate will continue to improve on the vision for this exciting pilot, implement the pilot and at-scale program for the Malawi team, and coordinate the monitoring and certification of the pilot. You will own the design, improvements, and implementation for all carbon-eligible, intensive agroforestry programs in the Malawi team. You will have a matrix reporting structure, and report to the Country Director and Agroforestry Lead

Responsibilities

Project management: You will lead the project implementation of the Carbon / Intensive Agroforestry work in Malawi. Key pieces include:

Lead the pilot design: Trial tree mixes and bundles based on input from important partners including farmers, One Acre Fund staff, and government entities.
Work with the relevant field-facing team through regular meetings to implement
Maintain critical path for high-priority items, including by creating:
Clear timelines and targets for each activity and pilot stage (action plans)
Clear team structure and thought-out budget
Document learnings: keep a detailed record of pilot challenges and learnings to improve implementation for future seasons

Research, analysis & iterate: You will support qualitative and quantitative surveys and analysis to inform program design. The main pieces of research in the pilot include:

Qualitative research: use participatory methods to get input from potential clients, local leaders, and government entities to ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent if necessary. Ensure that findings from qualitative research are sufficiently woven into program design.
Quantitative research: work with the MEL Lead and Global Impact team to monitor and evaluate the progress of the pilot.
Impact modeling: Work with the Global Impact team to shore up impact model assumptions and tradeoffs.
Iterative improvement & design – ensure that farmer and staff feedback are systematically incorporated into improving program design.

Project Financing and Partnerships: You’ll support One Acre Fund Malawi’s (and broader organization’s) efforts to build relationships with global buyers and financing partners for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. Specific responsibilities may include:

Support relationships or visits with Global Impact, potential partners, and regulators (including government and public sector entities) to finalize project scope, project design documents, and sign-offs.
Design projects following established targets and certification (or other PES) requirements by consulting with Global Impact.
If necessary and requested, engage with third parties for support, including remote-sensing providers, and MRV (Monitoring, Reporting & Verification) partners.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

4+ years of experience in program strategy and implementation in rural contexts, related to agriculture, agroforestry, and forestry.
Bachelor’s Degree Required – in rural project management, business management, agroforestry, forestry, agriculture, or related fields.
At least 2 years of people and project management experience focused on strategy or trial execution. Someone able to fully own projects, and guide projects forward independently.
A logical thinker, comfortable with analysis. We seek someone who can use quantitative analysis to create insights and inform recommendations.
English is required, and proficiency in Chichewa is preferred.