Programme Technical Lead - Climate Change Policy & Advocacy

About Trócaire 

Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We work towards five goals:  

•          Promote Access to Justice;  

•          Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice;  

•          Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence;  

•          Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity and  

•          Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice. 

Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and in our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

In Sierra Leone since 1995, Trócaire works to achieve climate and environmental justice; ensure women and girls’ protection, voice & influence; and save lives and protect human dignity. Trócaire supports work on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, women’s political participation and leadership, sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment, natural resource management and environmental conservation, and humanitarian preparedness and response.

Trócaire works exclusively with local partners and actively supports localised development and humanitarian aid. Supporting local civil society organisations to strengthen their organisational, institutional, financial, technical, and managerial capacities is core to Trócaire’s partnership approach in Sierra Leone.

Trócaire is currently seeking to recruit a Programme Technical Lead - Climate Change Policy & Advocacy to join our dynamic and passionate Programme Team. The role will report to the Head of Programmes.

Role Summary

The Programme Technical Lead - Climate Change Policy & Advocacy will lead the Trócaire’s climate change programme, supporting women, youth and communities resilience and adaptation to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in Sierra Leone. Currently funded through Irish Aid in 4 Districts (Kambia, Port Loko, Karene and Western Area Rural) with six partners, but with potential to expand. Coordinating closely with other Programme Technical Leads and Head Office advisors to ensure integrated programming. The role will serve as the lead technical expert for climate change policy and advocacy programming and partners as well as being the focal point for humanitarian emergencies and Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction programming. To achieve this the Programme Technical Lead will be responsible for designing with partners and stakeholders, innovative and impactful solutions and strategies in the relevant thematic areas. Key to this role is building on existing strong relationships with key government actors to position Trócaire and partners to be able to effectively influence climate related policies, especially ensuring community voices are heard. The role will represent Trócaire Sierra Leone’s programming in this sector with major public and private donors, NGOs, universities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and other professional organizations and build / strengthen relationships with these stakeholders. The role will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of civil society partners and providing technical assistance to ensure programme quality, with a focus on supporting women-centred organisations. The role will also support the existing climate change advocacy network, and have oversight of pre-positioned funding for humanitarian responses and response to emergencies. The role will also support the development of well-designed proposals in areas of technical expertise.

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, proactive and results-oriented with a proven track record climate adaption, mitigation and policy advocacy, and working with local partners.

Key Responsibilities

Technical and Programme Quality

• Lead and assume accountability for the successful delivery of climate change policy and advocacy programming, including the development and implementation of a localised climate strategy.
• Provide high quality technical support and accompaniment to partners and Climate Change Network on the development of advocacy campaigns and policy influencing.
• In coordination with MEAL, support the country team to proactively drive an evidence-based agenda around advocacy and policy influencing on climate and environmental justice that is inclusive of the voices of women and PWD.
• Provide high quality technical support and accompaniment to partners including, Women-Centred Organisations (WCOs), and CSOs on climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resources management, resource rights, and resilience – in coordination with Technical Lead for Climate Change and Food Security.
• Work closely with the Gender & Women’s Empowerment Technical Lead to integrate women’s empowerment (WE) into climate change policy and advocacy as well as coordination with WE policy Advocacy work.
• Lead on Humanitarian Response and Disaster Risk Preparedness programming.
• Collaborate with Trócaire Technical Advisors (in country and head office) to align programming approaches with best practices, ensuring consistency and documentation
• Review the Project Budget versus Actual reports including transaction list - update monthly BVA-to avoid under/overspending and ensure accurate budget forecasting and expense planning.

Partnership and Capacity Strengthening

• Lead partnership portfolio management of Trócaire’s thematic partners delivering climate change policy and advocacy programming, with a particular focus on WCOs and CSOs.
• Lead on capacity-strengthening initiatives, coaching, and mentoring of partners, on technical areas, including regular field accompaniment visits - Coordinating closely with Technical Lead for Climate Change and Food Security and Gender & WE for cross learnings and integration.
• Coordinate with Localisation Hub and Partnership & Localisation Manager on the development of tailored capacity strengthening tools and support package for WCOs
• Apply appropriate risk-based oversight to partners, including enhanced due diligence and performance support/recovery where required.
• Design and deliver capacity strengthening trainings, manuals, and guidance documents for partners in key technical areas using participatory techniques appropriate to audiences of various literacy and technical expertise levels Monitor ongoing implementation of partner projects through field visits (including joint field visits with finance and MEAL teams) and provide written feedback on compliance with agreed project objectives and Trócaire’s standards.
• Contribute proactively to the successful implementation of integrated programming framework as one of Trócaire’s key programming strategies

Reporting and Information Management

• Lead in the development of donor, government, and programme reports for projects within your portfolio.
• Manage and monitor programme and partner budgets and ensure timely budget expenditure and value for money ensuring compliance with financial norms and standards.
• Develop Service Level Agreements and lead on reporting and correspondence with the relevant line ministry.
• Collect and review partners’ narrative, MEAL and financial reports (jointly with MEAL and finance) and ensure timely submission and quality assurance.
• Coordinate with MEAL Manager to manage programme MEAL and support partners to have effective results-based MEAL systems, including needs assessments and programme baselines and endlines.
• Contribute/lead case studies and lessons learned documents and disseminate to key stakeholders.
• Participate in wider organisational planning and review work, as and where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and updated project files (both on Salesforce (as default) Country Box Office, and hard copy)

Programme Growth and Representation

• Support the development of institutional and foundation funding applications (concept notes and full proposals) for climate change and humanitarian programming in close coordination with Business Development and Grants Manager, partners, and HQ.
• Build Trócaire Sierra Leone’s reputation and networks in the environment, climate change space through participation in relevant networks, working groups and conferences.
• Coordinate with the Climate Change & Food Security Technical Lead to explore new opportunities for the growth of climate change adaptation opportunities, including forest enterprise development, clean cooking solutions, circular economy and renewable energy.
• Proactively identify and represent Trócaire Sierra Leone in thematic space and key policy influencing fora's that reflect on climate change, natural resource management, and resilience and actively engage key stakeholders/actors in and outside of Sierra Leone.

Humanitarian – inclusive of Emergency Preparedness & Disaster Risk Reduction

With Climate Change & Food Security Technical Lead support:

• Necessary humanitarian preparedness and response work with appropriate partners including coordination with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups, to assess disaster risks, vulnerabilities, and capacities
• Monitor and evaluate disaster risk reduction activities, ensuring compliance with standards and best practices.
• Providing technical guidance and support to field teams and partners on disaster risk management principles and methodologies.
• Represent the organization in relevant coordination mechanisms when addressing an emergency or humanitarian crisis, in working groups, and forum
• When required, design and facilitate capacity-building activities, training workshops, and awareness campaigns on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery

Other Duties

• Support visibility and communication activities—developing case studies, updates, and promotional materials to highlight project outcomes.
• Support in hosting visitors, including donors, Ministries and the media, and represent Trócaire at relevant forums and events.
• Contribute to country-level strategic planning, program reviews, and team learning.
• Carry out other responsibilities as assigned by the Head of Programs and Country Director.

Qualifications:

o   Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Agricultural Science, Disaster Management, International Development or other related disciplines.

Experience:

o   Minimum 5 years’ experience in working in climate change programming, with a focus on policy and advocacy within development, humanitarian, or public sector contexts

o   Demonstrated experience working with local civil society partners or in partnership-based programming

o   Strengths in policy and advocacy on climate and environmental justice

o    Experience in women’s empowerment and gender inclusion within the climate space.

o   Sound knowledge of financial management and donor compliance.

o   Experience in disaster risk management, humanitarian response, or related field, preferably in international settings.

o    Good knowledge of disaster risk reduction principles, frameworks, and methodology.

o   Demonstrated experience in facilitating meetings, workshops, and capacity-strengthening.

Skills:

o   Excellent writing skills (proposals, reports, strategies).

o   Ability to work strategically, coordinating key stakeholders to achieve clearly defined objectives.

o   Excellent interpersonal, communication, coordination, and facilitation skills.

o   Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building, diplomacy and negation skills and represent Trócaire with professionalism.

o   Proven results-based management skills.

o   Gender analysis/mainstreaming skills.

o   Highly organized with excellent planning, problem-solving, multitasking, and prioritization skills.

o   Ability to work both as part of a team and independently

o   Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, powerpoint) and familiar with project management tools.

o   Fluent in English (written and spoken) and Creole.

Qualities:

o   Commitment to Trócaire’s Vision, Mission and Values and safeguarding policies.

o   Strong leadership and teamwork.

o   Flexibility and ability to multi-task under pressure.

o   Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

o   Openness to learning especially about new agroecological food systems, inclusion and social norms approaches.

Others:

o   Ability and willingness to travel within country and internationally, and stay in rural areas in country.

o   Able to work irregular hours on an occasional basis

o   Financial integrity and stewardship of project funds

o   Experience in carbon financing desirable

Safeguarding – Preventing Abuse and Exploitation

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people from exploitation and/or abuse by our employees or others working on our behalf or as a result of our programmes or activities. Trócaire has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct, Global Safeguarding Policy) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all employees, consultants and other organisational representatives. As an employee of Trócaire you are required to abide by these policies. More information on Trócaire’s safeguarding policies available here.

Diversity and inclusion

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion statement available here.

For the candidate with the required technical knowledge, experience, and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits. Local terms and conditions apply.

Closing date: 20th March 2026