Wednesday News Issue 31

Check out the latest edition of Dóchas' Wednesday News, a weekly newsletter sharing information, updates, and opportunities relating to the Irish international development and humanitarian sector! Each week we share details of upcoming events and workshops, employment and internship opportunities, trainings on offer, and much more.
06 Aug 2025
Upcoming Events and Conferences
(1) NYCI: From Conflict to Connection: Youth Work in Ireland - 8 September
This event is designed for those supporting young people through increasingly complex realities, both at home and globally. Whether it’s navigating tensions in your local community or responding to international conflicts that shape how young people see themselves and the world, this space is for you. This is not just another training. It is a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, connect and build practical tools that help youth workers face conflict without fear. It will offer creative approaches to holding difficult conversations in your work, with a focus on community, care and justice. Find out more here.
Upcoming Meetings, Seminars & Workshops
(1) Carmichael: Navigating AI and Data Protection in the Non-Profit Sector - 3 October
As part of the National Training Fund (NTF) 2025 Programme, Carmichael is hosting a free webinar “Navigating AI and Data Protection in the Non-Profit Sector.” Join us on 3rd October 2025, from 1:05 PM to 1:55 PM, for an insightful session exploring the vital link between artificial intelligence and privacy compliance. Click here to learn more.
Vacancies
(1) Trócaire: Vacancies in Ireland and Internationally
Trócaire is currently advertising vacancies for various roles in a number of countries. Various closing dates apply. Find out more and apply here.
(2) Oxfam Ireland: Vacancies in Ireland and Internationally
Oxfam is currently advertising vacancies for various roles in a number of countries. Various closing dates apply. Find out more and apply here.
(3) Concern Worldwide: Vacancies in Ireland and Internationally
Concern Worldwide is currently advertising vacancies for various roles in Ireland and internationally. Various closing dates apply. Find out more and apply here.
(4) GOAL: Vacancies in Ireland and internationally
GOAL is currently advertising vacancies for various roles in a number of countries. Various closing dates apply. Find out more and apply here.
(5) Irish Red Cross: Vacancies in Ireland and Internationally
The Irish Red Cross is currently advertising vacancies for various roles in a number of countries. Various closing dates apply. Find out more and apply here.
(6) The Irish Refugee Council: Fundraising Officer - 8 August
The Irish Refugee Council are looking for a part-time or full-time Fundraising Officer. The Fundraising Officer will take on a central role acting as the key point of contact for supporter enquiries, information, and donor care. The ideal person will be a natural general fundraiser and people person, who is able to hit the ground running and work with colleagues in the Irish Refugee Council. They will support the successful implementation of national fundraising campaigns, in addition to managing day-to-day administration of ongoing fundraising activities. Find out more here.
(7) Christian Aid Ireland: Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager - 22 August
Reporting to the Head of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement, the Partnerships & Philanthropy Manager will be a key member of the Fundraising and Supporter Engagement team helping to shape the culture and the strategy of the team.The post-holder will be responsible for the work of the Partnerships & Philanthropy sub-team including building, identifying, maintaining and managing long-term relationships with a variety of donors and influencers across Ireland. The post holder will be expected to secure significant and sustainable income and reach agreed fundraising targets. For more information, click here.
(8) Administrative Assistant (Programmes) - 24 August
The post holder will provide effective and efficient administrative support for the International Programmes Department and, when possible, the Policy and Advocacy Unit, acting as first point of contact for the public through reception and telephone duties plus various other duties. For more information, click here.
(9) Plan International Ireland: Desk Officer – Irish Aid Unit - 13 August
Plan International Ireland is looking for a Desk Officer to join the Irish Aid Unit, with a focus on managing the humanitarian funding streams within our Irish Aid ICSP programme. The role involves close coordination with Plan Country Offices to ensure effective grant implementation and strong donor compliance. The Desk Officer will also contribute to funding proposals and support strategic country-level planning. Fluency in French is essential to effectively support our work in French-speaking countries. The role requires international travel. The link to the full advertisement can be found here.
(10) A Partnership with Africa: Chief Operating Officer - 22nd August
A Partnership with Africa is looking for a Chief Operating Officer who can be responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the organization and support the CEO in shaping and executing APA’s strategic plan and organisational priorities. The postholder will oversee core functions including finance, risk management, compliance, human resources, and governance support. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a senior leadership role within the charity or voluntary sector. Find out more here.
(11) Habitat Ireland: Multiple Positions in the Habitat ReStore Glasnevin - 22nd August
Habitat for Humanity Ireland is delighted to launch Habitat ReStore in Glasnevin and is recruiting for three roles: ReStore Manager, Donation Collection Driver/Supervisor and Volunteer Coordinator. All details and application forms available on the Habitat website here.
Calls for Tender
(1) Dóchas: Terms of Reference: EU Presidency Project Consultancy Services - Proposal Development - 18 August
Dóchas connects, strengthens and represents a network of international development and humanitarian organisations who have a shared vision of a just, sustainable and equal world. Comprised of 47 full members and 8 associate members, Dóchas plays a unique role in safeguarding Ireland’s reputation of punching above its weight due to its long-standing commitment to global development. Ahead of Ireland’s EU Presidency (July - December 2026), we are embarking on a Presidency Project with two other national platforms in Lithuania and Greece, together with CONCORD Europe. This Presidency Project will run from April 2026 to March 2028. In Autumn 2025, we will submit a multi annual proposal for this project to the European Commission with the Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme (DEAR). Dóchas will be the lead agency. Find out more here.
(2) Rosminians (Institute of Charity): Consultancy for developing a system for skills training - 2 September
The Rosminians are an international congregation running parish, educational, health, community and capacity strengthening programmes. These have expanded in our East Africa Province (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda), together with a growth in the number of students for the priesthood. This short consultancy will expand our effectiveness by developing a system for skills training of Rosminian personnel as part of their formation. This will equip them with skills to implement and manage projects benefitting communities in the global south. Thanks to support from Misean Cara under their capacity strengthening policy. To find out more, email missionoffice(at)rosminians.ie.
(3) Irish Development Education Association: Auditing Services Tender - 11 August
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is inviting tender submissions from interested auditing service suppliers to provide auditing and associated professional services to the organisation from the year ending 31 December 2025. IDEA is seeking to engage an experienced auditing service firm that will provide the full range of auditing services required to fulfil its statutory obligations, to comply with relevant accounting and reporting standards and best practice. Find out more here.
(4) Oxfam Ireland: Evaluation of ‘Activists and Advocates’ project with the Irish Refugee Council - 28 August
Invitation to tender for an independent evaluation: The Irish Refugee Council and Oxfam Ireland’s ‘Activists and Advocates’ project aims to enhance the advocacy capacities of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who are or want to be advocates for change in the international protection system and defending access to justice for people on the move. Funded by IHREC, we have organized 7 batches of workshops on a variety of topics proposed by rights holders. We are seeking to engage a researcher to do an evaluation to determine the extent to which project aims have been achieved and to make recommendations related to the next stage of this project. Find out more here.
Courses and Training
(1) Maynooth University: International Justice LLM programme - 13 August
The International Justice masters programme provides students with vital practical and conceptual insights into issues of human rights, equality and social justice under international law. It provides deep, critical engagement with how the international legal order works and how it seeks to advance rights and justice for economically marginalised communities, migrants and racialised groups, victims of gendered violence, people with disabilities, and global south peoples. The masters is open to applicants with legal and non-legal backgrounds alike. It includes special guest lectures from UN Special Rapporteurs and other leading figures, a trip to the Hague to visit international courts and institutions, and the option of a placement module to work part-time at one of our partner organisations. Find out more here.
(2) The Wheel: Transformative Leadership Programme - 29 September
We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for this year's Transformative Leadership Programme. The Transformative Leadership Programme is accredited at Level 8 through our partners at Maynooth University. The programme focuses on strengthening and deepening your capacity and ambition as a leader in the Irish community and voluntary sector. This year, as part of The Wheel and The Leadership Academy’s commitment to contributing to a diverse and inclusive Leadership pipeline for the sector, we will be making two fully paid bursaries for the Transformative Leadership course available. For full programme details and application process, click here.
(3) United Edge: Justice Based Approach Foundation Course - 29 August
Our flagship course invites those in humanitarian, development, and social/environmental justice spaces to radically rethink and transform aid. Open to staff at any level, this global learning journey challenges power dynamics, nurtures strategic and personal leadership, and equips participants to create lasting systemic change through their work. We explore systems thinking, localisation, decolonisation, ethical leadership, participatory decision-making, innovation-based program design, justice-centred M&E, and more. If you are looking for practical tools for accountable, transformative action grounded in justice with the power to shape the future of aid, please register by 29 August here.
(4) DSA Ireland: Indigenous Knowledge and Practice: an optimistic response to the global funding crisis? - 3 September
On 3rd September 2025, DSAI will host an Autumn School on the theme of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice: an optimistic response to the global funding crisis. The development community at present is profoundly shaken by the cuts to development aid budgets and the negative implications of these cuts for humanitarian organisations, partner agencies and communities in the Global South. These cuts come at a time of growing need in the face of conflict, food insecurity and displacement. Our sector is perhaps struggling to find ways to respond. Find out more here.
(5) Meath Partnership: Global Citizenship Education Course - 1-2 October
Meath Partnership are offering a free a 2-day course in Global Citizenship Education on the 1st and 2nd of October as part of our Connecting Cultures - Sustaining Our World programme.This free course is suitable for Adult and Community Educators, people that work or #volunteer with #community or charitable organisations, social justice and human rights activists.This highly interactive course will give you a deep understanding of how and why applying a GCE approach will build strong, value based communities by challenging the root causes of inequality. Find out more here.
(6) IDEA: The ABC of Global Citizenship Education 2025 - 17 September
Register for the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA)’s 2025 edition of the ABC of GCE Training! It will run in three parts, through a mixture of online and in-person sessions. This training is specifically designed for newcomers to Global Citizenship Education but is open to all. It was first run in 2023 in collaboration with Concern Worldwide’s Global Citizenship team, with the intention of supporting newcomers to GCE to deepen their understanding and develop their skills in Global Citizenship Education delivery. It will also be useful for anyone who wishes to refresh their Global Citizenship Education skills. Find out more here.
Watch and Listen
(1) Irish Rule of Law International's New Podcast Episode
Irish Rule of Law International's latest podcast episode features Dr. Patrick Paul Walsh, Professor of Global Affairs and Sustainable Futures and Director of the UCD M.Sc. in Sustainable Development. He is also currently on secondment to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The episode explores shifting aid dynamics - with donor support down 7% in 2024 and USAID dismantled, Walsh warns of the consequences for life-saving programs, but also offers hope. He outlines alternative finance models, like intergovernmental banks and insurance-backed risk tools. Despite rising global tensions, he stresses the need for multilateralism and a rules-based international order. Listen here.
Other News
(1) Africa Agri-food Development Programme: The 2025 Call for Applications is now open - 15 August
The Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP) is Ireland’s flagship initiative supporting the role of the private sector in sustainable food systems development. It acts as a catalyst to enable Irish and African businesses to explore and seize exciting opportunities to bring their expertise to Africa – to develop new markets and to contribute to strengthening mutual trade between Ireland and Africa. The AADP, which opens once a year for funding applications to support projects and feasibility studies, enables Ireland’s agri-food sector to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals that aim to tackle poverty, eradicate hunger, fight inequality, and make real and sustainable changes that better the lives of the world's most vulnerable communities. To apply and find out more, click here.
(2) Plan International Ireland: Feargal O'Connell appointed CEO of Plan International Ireland
Plan International Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Feargal O’Connell as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from mid-August 2025. Mr O’Connell joins Plan from Self Help Africa where he has served as CEO for the past two years. He will replace Paul O’Brien who retires at the end of July after eight years leading the development and humanitarian organisation. Feargal O'Connell has over two decades of experience in senior roles in the INGO sector including with Concern Worldwide and the International Rescue Committee, as well as serving as CEO for Sightsavers Ireland and the aforementioned Self Help Africa.
(3) Centre for Global Education: Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review Issue 42 Call for Contributors - 26 September
The Centre for Global Education invites contributions to Issue 42 of its bi-annual, peer reviewed and open access journal, Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review on the theme Pedagogical Responses to the Meta Crisis: The Role of Development Education. Authors interested in contributing an article to this issue should submit a 300-word article abstract by 5.00pm on Friday, 26 September 2025. Find out more here.