Satellite-Enabled Environmental Project M&E Training Course

Introduction
Environmental projects require robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems to ensure impact, accountability, and long-term sustainability. With advances in remote sensing and satellite technology, organizations can now monitor environmental indicators, land use changes, deforestation, water bodies, and biodiversity trends with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency. The Satellite-Enabled Environmental Project M&E Training Course is designed to equip development practitioners, environmental specialists, and M&E professionals with the technical skills to integrate satellite imagery and geospatial tools into the full M&E cycle of environmental and climate-related projects.

Spanning 10 intensive days, this course offers practical, hands-on training on how to access, analyze, and visualize satellite data using platforms such as Google Earth Engine, QGIS, and Sentinel Hub. Participants will learn to use satellite-based evidence to assess project baselines, monitor environmental changes in real-time, and report progress against climate and sustainability indicators. Whether working in conservation, reforestation, disaster risk reduction, or climate adaptation, this training ensures that participants can deliver data-driven insights using satellite-enabled M&E systems.

Duration

10 Days
Target Audience

  • Environmental and climate change project managers
  • M&E officers and geospatial analysts
  • Conservation and biodiversity specialists
  • NGO staff working in DRR, agriculture, and WASH
  • Policy makers and sustainability reporting teams

Course Objectives

  • Understand the principles of satellite-based monitoring in environmental projects
  • Access and interpret satellite imagery relevant to project indicators
  • Integrate remote sensing into M&E frameworks and reporting
  • Use geospatial platforms to track land cover, water, vegetation, and climate data
  • Develop satellite-informed dashboards and decision-support tools

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Satellite-Based M&E

  • The role of remote sensing in environmental monitoring
  • Advantages of satellite data over traditional methods
  • Overview of key satellite missions (Landsat, Sentinel, MODIS)
  • Types of environmental data collected from space
  • Case studies of satellite-enabled project monitoring

Module 2: Remote Sensing and M&E Framework Integration

  • Linking satellite data to project indicators
  • Baseline mapping using historical imagery
  • Remote verification of environmental interventions
  • Monitoring outputs, outcomes, and impact from space
  • Designing M&E plans with geospatial data inputs

Module 3: Introduction to Satellite Imagery Platforms

  • Navigating Google Earth Engine, Sentinel Hub, and Open Foris
  • Accessing free satellite imagery and time series data
  • Interpreting multispectral and thermal imagery
  • Downloading and preprocessing imagery
  • Key technical terms and resolutions explained

Module 4: Using QGIS for Environmental Analysis

  • Installing and setting up QGIS for M&E work
  • Importing, layering, and styling satellite data
  • Creating maps to visualize project areas and changes
  • Performing spatial analysis (NDVI, land cover classification)
  • Exporting maps for reports and dashboards

Module 5: Monitoring Forests and Vegetation

  • NDVI and vegetation health indicators
  • Detecting deforestation and forest degradation
  • Mapping restoration and afforestation efforts
  • Integrating ground-truth data with satellite images
  • Early warning systems for forest loss

Module 6: Water Resources and Wetland Monitoring

  • Identifying and mapping surface water bodies
  • Seasonal changes and water availability tracking
  • Wetland degradation and restoration monitoring
  • Drought and flood pattern detection
  • Linking satellite water data to WASH indicators

Module 7: Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection

  • Satellite-based land cover classification techniques
  • Monitoring agricultural expansion and urban sprawl
  • Mapping erosion, desertification, and land degradation
  • Visualizing land use impacts on ecosystems
  • Time-series analysis for land dynamics

Module 8: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Indicators

  • Satellite support for climate adaptation M&E
  • Monitoring temperature anomalies and precipitation
  • Early warning for storms, cyclones, and wildfires
  • Linking remote sensing to vulnerability assessments
  • Resilience indicators from space

Module 9: Community Engagement and Participatory Mapping

  • Integrating community feedback with geospatial data
  • Using mobile GIS tools to capture local observations
  • Participatory validation of satellite data
  • Story maps and community dashboards
  • Ensuring inclusion and local ownership

Module 10: Data Quality, Ethics, and Limitations

  • Ensuring spatial data accuracy and reliability
  • Ethical use of satellite and aerial imagery
  • Managing data gaps, cloud cover, and resolution challenges
  • Respecting privacy and indigenous territories
  • Transparency and accountability in remote data collection

Module 11: Environmental Reporting and Visualization

  • Building interactive dashboards with satellite data
  • Visual storytelling with maps and graphs
  • Integrating maps into donor reports and evaluations
  • Automating updates with cloud-based systems
  • Communicating complex data to non-technical audiences

Module 12: Institutionalizing Satellite-Based M&E Systems

  • Building internal capacity and technical teams
  • SOPs and workflows for regular satellite monitoring
  • Budgeting and planning for long-term sustainability
  • Collaborating with space agencies and data providers
  • Scaling and replicating across programs and geographies

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

 

 

Satellite-enabled Environmental Project M&e Training Course in Finland
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