Open to opportunities

Matthew Gates

@matthewgates

Agricultural development leader with 16 years' experience driving sustainable farming, project management, and agribusiness growth.

Rwanda

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek roles where I can scale sustainable agricultural technologies and farmer-focused business models, lead operations and MEL, and collaborate with partners to improve smallholder livelihoods.

I am an agricultural development professional with 16 years of experience across Rwanda, Senegal, Burundi and DR Congo, working in both the non-profit and private sectors. I hold an M.P.S. in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell and bring deep technical knowledge in agroforestry, irrigation, and sustainable coffee systems.

As Founder and CEO of a tractor service company, I managed operations, investor relations, staff recruitment and training, machinery maintenance, and integration with the Hello Tractor GPS/IT platform to deliver mechanization services to smallholder farmers. I have five years' experience leading an investor-facing social enterprise and broad consulting experience ranging from solar-powered pivots to e-tractor feasibility.

My program and project roles have included designing monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, running multi-year farmer adoption strategies for environmentally beneficial practices, and coordinating large-scale irrigation and extension programs. I have worked with cooperatives and thousands of smallholders to implement shade-grown coffee systems, greenbelt restoration, green manure promotion, and farmer data tracking using digital platforms.

I am a proficient polyglot (English, French, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Wolof) with experience collaborating with governments, CGIAR partners, and international funders. I seek opportunities where I can scale sustainable agricultural technologies and farmer-focused business models while strengthening M&E, extension, and operational systems.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder and CEO

Current

Bunga Bunga Ubutaka Farm Mechanization Ltd.

Dec 2019 - Present (6 years)

Founded and led a tractor service company delivering mechanization to smallholder farmers, managing staff, investor relations, machinery maintenance, and agronomic data systems using Hello Tractor.

Farm Mechanization Hello Tractor Platform Investor Relations

Agroforestry Systems Consultant

This Side Up Coffee

May 2019 - Jan 2023 (3 years 8 months)

Designed and piloted scalable agroforestry systems for the Abakunda Ikawa Farmers’ Cooperative to improve coffee sustainability and farmer livelihoods.

Cooperative Engagement Farmer Training

Consultant

GIZ

Sep 2020 - Dec 2020 (3 months)

Produced a market and feasibility study for Volkswagen’s E-Tractor pilot in Rwanda to inform program design and deployment decisions.

Market Research feasibility studies E Tractor Technology Stakeholder Analysis Report Writing

Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Consultant

Sowers of Hope International

Sep 2019 - Dec 2019 (3 months)

Developed pre- and post-program M&E surveys and data systems for an agricultural program serving over 200 smallholder farmers.

Monitoring & Evaluation Survey Design Program Evaluation Smallholder Agriculture Data Analysis

Trees for Kibira Project Manager

Long Miles Coffee

Sep 2018 - Oct 2019 (1 year 1 month)

Planned and implemented a multi-year strategy with 5,000 partner farmers promoting shade-grown coffee, greenbelt restoration, green manure trees, and woodlots to reduce pressure on Kibira Forest.

Project Management Data Analysis

Resettlement & Livelihoods Consultant

ERM

Apr 2018 - Aug 2018 (4 months)

Managed livelihood restoration projects for communities affected by mine expansion, delivering agricultural training, small business support, agroforestry and irrigation interventions.

Livelihoods Agricultural Irrigation Community Engagement

Project Associate

Nature Conservation Trust / Howard G. Buffett Foundation

May 2016 - Nov 2017 (1 year 6 months)

Monitored contractors and supported extension for a $50M, 1,200-hectare solar pivot irrigation project and conducted cover crop research and logistics for inputs and machinery.

Monitoring Contractor Management Cover Cropping Logistics

Agriculture Research & Policy Manager

Gardens for Health International

Apr 2015 - Apr 2016 (1 year)

Led field trials, managed research partnerships, and developed agricultural training curricula to support nutrition-focused interventions and collaborated with CGIAR partners and government working groups.

Field Trials Research Management Curriculum Development Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture CGIAR Collaboration

Food Security & Agriculture Coordinator

Mennonite Central Committee

Oct 2012 - Apr 2015 (2 years 6 months)

Coordinated a multi-NGO conservation agriculture project using Farmer Field School methods across eight districts, developing plans, budgets, and M&E frameworks for 33 community groups.

Conservation Agriculture Farmer Field School Project Coordination M&E Budgeting

Agroforestry Extension Agent

Peace Corps

Jan 2006 - Dec 2009 (3 years 11 months)

Delivered agroforestry extension in rural Senegal focusing on tree propagation, improved seeds, composting, and community training while supporting fundraising and volunteer training.

Tree Propagation Seed Systems

Court Reporter

Neal R. Gross and Company

Jan 2005 - Dec 2006 (1 year 11 months)

Recorded and edited legal and government proceedings for transcription across the Washington, DC area.

Court Reporting Transcription Editing Audio Recording

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Cornell University

Master of Professional Studies, International Agriculture and Rural Development

Master of Professional Studies in International Agriculture and Rural Development with coursework and research focused on agricultural development, extension, soil science, and semi-arid agroforestry; thesis on farmer responses to a tree-regeneration and soil conservation program in central Senegal.

St. John's College

Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the St. John's College Great Books program emphasizing seminar-style study, extensive writing including a senior thesis, and proficiency in languages and sciences.