Establishing TREE management and governance

A TREE program will have a number of levels of governance to ensure that it is recognized within the relevant national or state government, has the explicit participation of national implementing partners and is relevant and responsive at the local level. A generic model is presented in Doc 2.11 TREE Management and Governance
  • The Host Agency is a government Ministry or Agency with overall responsibility for coordination and implementation of the TREE programme in the country. The Host Agency normally has responsibility for training and/or employment promotion and is able to mobilize other relevant government bodies to contribute as needed. The Host Agency is the formal point of contact for the ILO.
  • The National Advisory Committee is responsible for overall guidance and support for the implementation of TREE, for reviewing and approving programme plans and progress, for providing advice on programme design and implementation, and for promoting and advocating for the TREE approach.
  • Coordinating Units are teams responsible for coordination and operation of TREE activities. They are staff hired or assigned to the project for its implementation, separate from staff working in implementing partner organizations.
  • Local TREE Committees are based in each community where TREE operates, and are responsible for managing TREE programme design and delivery

Staff management and structure

The structure of Coordinating Units will vary depending on the scope and locations(s) of a TREE programme. A major programme with multiple locations may involve a national coordination unit and staff team and a number of local teams, with staff expertise allocated at the national or local level as required. A detailed TOR for staff is linked below. In general, the main staff functions and expertise required include:
  • A national programme coordinator with overall responsibility for coordination of delivery and operations as the officer in charge.
  • Local TREE coordinators responsible for management, coordination and administration of all programme activities within the programme location.
Specific expertise in the following areas is required. This may include staff at a national level providing support to a number of local programmes, or local level staff with responsibility for the immediate area only.
  • Socio-economist expertise responsible for research and analyses guiding the identification of economic opportunity, training and post-training requirements.
  • Training specialist expertise responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of training delivered by TREE. Training expertise may include
    • Entrepreneurial training
    • Instructor training and training delivery
    • Curriculum development and course evaluation
  • Expertise and understanding of gender, equity and diversity
  • The programme may also need to draw on expertise in the following areas, from national or international experts:
    • Micro- and small enterprise development
    • Cooperatives
    • Documentation and evaluation
    • Placement and follow up
    • Conflict sensitivity and peace-building (in fragile contexts).

Selection of TREE communities

The initial socio-economic/context scan, stakeholder assessment and formation of the national advisory committee are key steps in the identification of communities where TREE will operate. Selection should be based on criteria that have been defined by key stakeholders through the national advisory committee.

A four-step process is suggested:
  1. Define the criteria. These should include the potential viability of a programme and needs. Criteria should be validated by the national advisory committee and any other key stakeholders.
  2. Field visits to assess potential.
  3. Shortlisting of proposed sites by the TREE team, with assessments and recommendations.
  4. Final selection. This may be by the host agency with input from the national advisory committee or other body as established in the criteria definition.