M&E for Agricultural and Food Security Programmes Training Course

This advanced course develops technical skills in monitoring and evaluation for agricultural and food security programmes, covering yield estimation methodology, seasonal monitoring design and food security indicator interpretation. Participants work through real agricultural data collection challenges rather than generic M&E theory, examining what makes agricultural M&E genuinely different in timing and measurement. The course closes with a seasonally sequenced M&E framework designed for a defined agricultural programme.

Agricultural programme M&E has to work around a fundamental constraint that most other sectors do not face as sharply: outcomes are measured in seasons, not months, and a poorly timed monitoring cycle can mean waiting a full year to learn whether a programme intervention actually affected yield or income.

M&E officers moving into agricultural programming often bring strong general M&E skills but limited exposure to the specific measurement challenges of yield estimation, seasonal attribution and food security indicator interpretation that agricultural programmes depend on. This advanced course moves beyond general M&E principles into the agricultural-specific data systems, seasonal monitoring design and yield measurement skills the sector requires.

• Explain how agricultural M&E timing differs from standard M&E cycles
• Apply yield estimation methodology to programme monitoring
• Design seasonal monitoring frameworks matched to cropping calendars
• Interpret food security indicators for agricultural programme use
• Assess attribution challenges specific to agricultural interventions
• Structure data collection around farming system realities
• Evaluate remote sensing and satellite data use in agricultural M&E
• Assess gender and equity disaggregation in agricultural M&E
• Advise programme teams on agricultural M&E system design

This training is ideal for:

• M&E officers assigned to agricultural programmes
• Agricultural programme managers with M&E responsibility
• Ministry of agriculture data and statistics staff
• Food security cluster and coordination M&E staff
• Agricultural extension programme MEL staff
• Development partner agriculture and food security staff
• Research staff supporting agricultural evaluations
• Value chain and market systems programme M&E staff

The programme is delivered through facilitator-led technical sessions combined with yield estimation exercises, seasonal monitoring design case studies and a framework build, structured around small-group work and real or anonymised agricultural M&E material rather than lecture alone. Each module closes with a short applied task so participants leave with working tools rather than notes alone.

Organisations sending staff on this training can expect:

• Agricultural M&E genuinely aligned with seasonal and cropping realities
• Improved yield estimation and attribution rigour
• Stronger seasonal monitoring reducing data gaps
• Better interpretation of food security indicators informing programme decisions
• Improved use of remote sensing and technology in data collection
• More credible equity analysis within agricultural M&E
• Increased credibility with ministry of agriculture and cluster counterparts
• A documented agricultural M&E strengthening approach
• Stronger overall agricultural programme accountability and learning

Participants leave this course with:

• Advanced technical skill in agricultural and food security programme M&E
• Confidence to apply yield estimation methodology accurately
• Sharper seasonal monitoring design skills
• Practical experience interpreting food security indicators
• Stronger standing in agricultural M&E discussions
• A completed seasonal M&E framework for direct application
• Improved ability to assess remote sensing data for agricultural M&E use
• A specialist network across African agricultural M&E practice
• A foundation for senior agricultural M&E leadership roles

At Strategic Revenue Africa, our certification goes beyond proof of attendance—it represents practical competence and measurable capability. Upon successful completion of our training programs, participants are awarded a Certificate of Completion from Strategic Revenue Africa, recognizing their ability to apply acquired knowledge in real-world settings. As an organization focused on architecting sustainable revenue and strengthening organizational performance, our certifications signal that participants are equipped with skills that drive results, not just theory.

Prior general M&E experience is expected, alongside some exposure to agricultural or food security programming. This is an advanced, practitioner-level course building sector-specific depth onto existing M&E foundations.