TerraFund Cohort 3 Timeline

This article provides a high-level timeline for TerraFund Cohort 3 operations, including key dates and deadlines that are set by the program, and suggested timeframes/timelines for your project activities (though each project is unique and will operate on a slightly different timeline).

Over-all TerraFund Cohort 3 Timeline

Detailed Year 1 Timeline & Key Deliverables

What to Expect: Year 1 events and Trainings

Over-all TerraFund Cohort 3 Timeline

• Year 0 (2025): Project sourcing
• Year 1 (2026): contracts signed and planting starts
• Year 2 (2027): Field validation visit 1and planting completed if not all done in Y1
• Year 3 (2028): WRI Field Verification Tree Count Visit 1 (Only Non-Remote Sensing Projects)
• Year 4 (2029): Field validation visit 2
• Year 5 (2030): First satellite verification
• Year 6 (2031): Field validation visit 3 and Field & Verification Tree Count Visit 2 (Only Non-Remote Sensing Projects
• Year 7 (2032): Final satellite verification

Please note that the first planting season will begin late August 2026, except for the 7 existing GRV projects.

Reporting Guidelines on TerraMatch

• Project, Site, and Nursery Reports: you will submit them every 6 months on TerraMatch.

• Disturbance Reports: they have to be submitted on TerraMatch as soon as possible after the event occurs.

• Financial and Expense Reports: they will be submitted annually for your organization and project.

• Supporting Documentation: Be prepared to upload media files and any relevant documents with your reports.

You can find detailed guidance on reporting here: [LINKS TO COME]

Detailed Year 1 Timeline & Key Deliverables

2026
April	Project & Nursery Profiles Completed on TerraMatch: You will create your TerraMatch project profile (due April 7) and nursery profiles, one profile for each nursery established (due April 14). Making sure that the funded project profile aligns with the impact targets in your application and contract.
April-May	TerraMatch profiles quality assured and approved: Your TerraFund’s project manager will review your profile(s) in TerraMatch, provide feedback, and either approve them or request further revisions. All profiles will be approved by April.
May	Site profiles completed on TerraMatch: You will create TerraMatch site profiles for all planting sites established by Mid May 2026. The TerraFund project manager will confirm the required number of sites (typically fewer than 10) and the TerraFund data quality analyst will identify the right strategy for collecting geospatial location data.​
June	Site profiles quality assured and approved: Once you have answered all questions and updated your information in TerraMatch, your TerraFund’s project manager will approve your profiles.
July	First reports submitted on TerraMatch: You must submit a report on TerraMatch for your project profile and each of your site and/or nursery profiles​. The submitted information must cover all project progress from January 1 – June 30, 2026.
August	First reports quality assured and approved: You will submit by July 31, and your project manager will review and approve reports by August 31
September-December	Planting begins; polygons submitted and quality assured on a rolling basis
January	Second reports submitted on TerraMatch (including annual financial report): This report covers all project progress from July 1 – December 31 2026

Please note that guidance for creating these profiles will be provided through the TerraMatch Onboarding, Project/Profile Creation, and Nursery Creation training modules.

What to Expect: Year 1 events and Trainings

2026
February	Onboarding modules and kickoff webinar: Modules will be sent as pre-read materials before the kickoff webinar.
March	Online project & nursery profile creation training modules will be sent as pre-read material and Profile & Nursery Creation Webinar will be hosted​
April	Online siting & ​site profile creation training
April-May	First in-person ​peer-to-peer workshop: Focusing on siting strategy, community engagement, and nursery establishment.​
June	Online TerraMatch reporting training
July	Online polygon creation training
August-September	Second in-person ​peer-to-peer workshop: Focusing on geospatial data creation, tree planting, and site maintenance.​

Please note that after year one, refresher courses will continue to be offered as needed for certain modules, based on landscape realities and champions’ requests.

You won’t be alone on this journey, the project management teams at WRI, VIA Foundation, and Africa Trees, along with MRV and polygon creation experts, a help center with articles and videos, and a network of your peers are all here to support you throughout your project.