Wednesday News Issue 41
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.
15 Oct 2025
Upcoming events and conferences
(1) Front Line Defenders & Smashing Times: Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival - 10 – 19 October
Ireland’s only annual festival dedicated to the intersection of the arts and human rights returns under the banner “In Solidarity: An International Celebration of Arts and Human Rights. Featuring events that promote equality, human rights and diversity, the festival brings together artists, human rights defenders, and communities across Ireland for 10 days of performances, exhibitions, screenings, discussions, and more. The festival is is presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based international organisation working to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders at risk, as well as a range of partners. Find out more here.
(2) The Centre for Global Education: Poverty in Northern Ireland: From the Local to the Global - 16 October
The Centre for Global Education has commissioned a research report titled Poverty in Northern Ireland: From the Local to the Global that comprises a systematic literature review from 2020-2024 of poverty reports in Northern Ireland that discern the main drivers of poverty and persistent trends. The research was compiled by the School of Social Sciences, Education & Social Work at Queen's University Belfast and funded by the Halifax Foundation Empower Programme. Two launches of the research report have been organised. Find out more here.
(3) Front Line Defenders: Interview with Lana Estemirova on her book ‘Please Live: The Chechen Wars, My Mother and Me’ - 18 October
Irish writer and journalist, Caelainn Hogan, interviews Lana Estemirova on her book honouring the legacy of her mother, renowned human rights defender Natalia Estemirova who was forcibly disappeared and murdered in 2009 for investigating and documenting human rights violations during the conflict in Chechnya, Russia's North Caucasus. Find out more here.
(4) IDEA: Launch of IDEA’s Theory of Impact for GCE - 4 November
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) invite you to the presentation of our ‘Theory of Impact for GCE’. We will lead you through the process behind the creation of this model, how it will be used and what we hope it could bring to the sector. We will also touch on a new tool being developed based on the model, which should allow the creation of an interactive data visualisation map of our collective impact as a network. Find out more here.
(5) The Wheel: Leadership Academy Breakfast Club - 13 November
Join us for our next Leadership Academy Breakfast Club on the themes of leadership and volunteering on 13 November 2025. Find out more here.
(6) Saolta: Making spACE for Justice - 7 November
Join us for Making spACE for Justice, an in-person national gathering of educators, activists, and community leaders. This engaging event will explore how learning communities can foster transformative action and build a more just and equitable world. We'll have opportunities to dive into topics such as racism, legal perspectives on the current global challenges, and disinformation. Experts such as law professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin and Aisling Meyer of AONTAS will be providing the tools and resources participants would need.For more information contact maggie(at)saolta.
(7) Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF): Gaza: Doctors Can’t Stop Genocide - 5 November
Join Médecins Sans Frontières Ireland for an in-person discussion with Palestinian doctors who lived through the last two years of genocidal war in Gaza at the RCSI in Dublin on November 5. Find out more here.
(8) Maynooth University: Launch of new Centre for Global Development - 13 November
Launch of new Centre for Global Development at Maynooth University in Renehan Hall, Maynooth University Old Campus on Thursday 13th November from 2pm - 4pm. Featuring international guest speakers John Ging, CEO of the Famine Relief Fund and Former Director of Operations at OCHA and of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip; and Reylynne Dela Paz, Advocacy and Campaigns Manager of CIVICUS, as well as others involved in global development in Ireland, the seminar asks 'What's Next for Global Development? Please RSVP by email to internationaldevelopment(at)mu.ie.
Upcoming Meetings, Seminars & Workshops
(1) IDEA: Register for the Advocacy Toolkit and Policy Guide on GCE Workshop - 5 November
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is running a second in-person all-day workshop for members on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, 10.30am - 4.30pm at the IDEA offices, 6 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1, D01 Y183, on our Advocacy. Toolkit and Policy Guide on GCE in Ireland and the Wider World. This is a repeat of the workshop that took place in May and is aimed at members who did not have the opportunity to participate in May. Find out more here.
(2) IIEA: Peace in Times of War: Ideas for Supportive Peace Policy - 21 October
The world is becoming less peaceful and concerns about the future of peacebuilding as a field seem warranted. Based on over 150 interviews, Professor Gearoid Millar will describe various challenges (structural, financial, and practical) that practitioners identify as limiting their ability to contribute to sustainable peace. He will also outline new approaches and mechanisms that would allow policy to better support peace in this time of increasing uncertainty. Gearoid Millar is a Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Aberdeen. Find out more here.
(3) IDEA: Registration is Now Open for the Code Network Meeting - 26 November
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is looking forward to welcoming all members of the Code of Good Practice for Development Education to our next Code network meeting on Wednesday, 26 November, 10am – 3.30pm, in Richmond Barracks in Inchicore, Dublin. There are places for two representatives (staff, volunteers, etc.) from each Code member. One of the commitments in joining the Code is to contribute to the Community of Practice for this Code, including sharing successes and learning with other Code members and attending at least one of the two Code network meetings annually. Find out more here.
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) Programme Manager – Accommodation - 16 October
This Programme Manager will be responsible for leading and managing significant programme areas within the Migration department. This will include leading with programme planning, managing implementation through to delivery and reporting, and engaging with relevant stakeholders, and ensuring the programme area is delivery to the highest standard and in line with organisational strategy. The role will join other programme managers and the Head of International & Migration as the overall management team of the Migration department. Find out more here.
(7) Christian Aid Ireland: Church and Community Officer (Munster) - 19 October
This role is part of the Church and Community team (a sub-division of the Fundraising and Supporter Engagement Team) and plays a vital role in stewarding, inspiring and engaging churches, Christian Aid groups and key individuals in order to increase engagement through giving, fundraising, acting and praying – and as a result growing support for Christian Aid Ireland’s work around the world. The majority of these supporters belong to Christian Aid Ireland’s 7 sponsoring church denominations. Find out more here.
(8) Partnership and Philanthropy Officer - 9 November
We’re looking for someone who will play a vital role in supporting the Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager in driving forward our strategy of both excellent stewardship and effective acquisition, in order that we can grow the impact we have on our projects around the world. Find out more here.
(9) MSF Ireland: Temporary Fundraising Assistant - 16 October
The Fundraising Assistant plays a key role in administering the donor experience, handling queries, donation processing, thanking, and filing across various income types and donor sources. This role supports the Individual Giving and Supporter Services team during the busiest period of the year. Find out more here.
Calls for Tender
(1) Oxfam Ireland: Invitation to tender for report on “Wealth Inequality in Ireland’” - 24 October
Oxfam Ireland has for over a decade highlighted how extreme levels of wealth inequality undermines poverty reduction and social mobility, erodes democracy and increases economic and social instability. Oxfam Ireland is currently campaigning for a globally applied wealth tax as a key policy intervention to address growing wealth inequality and to raise revenue to increase state capacity to tackle issues of inequality and climate change. Expressions of interest should be emailed to Michaelmccarthy.flynn(at)oxfam.org with the subject line “Wealth Inequality Ireland” no later than COB of Friday 24th of October. Find out more here.
(2) IDEA: Design of an Interactive Data Visualisation Tool, Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education in Ireland - 29 October
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is looking for a consultant to design an interactive data visualisation tool for our Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education in Ireland. The consultant will lead the design or tailoring of off-the-shelf survey software and analytics software to our needs in collaboration with IDEA staff. Please submit a tender including a description of stages in the development process, number of days, expected fee, and experience of relevant personnel for the work to be carried out to anya(at)ideaonline.ie.The deadline for application is Wednesday, 29 October, 5.00pm. Read the full terms of reference here.
(3) Christian Aid Ireland: Facilitate a Learning Review of the Gender-Transformative Approach Pilot Fund - 24 October
A consultant is sought to facilitate Christian Aid Ireland and the wider team engaged in the GTA Pilot Fund to undertake the learning review, identify insights, themes and learning for future work and to document this in an accessible paper that is suitable for external and internal audiences. For full details and to apply, please visit here.
Courses and Training
(1) VSI: Join VSI’s Youth Climate Justice Project 2025
Are you aged 18–25 and living in Ireland? Take part in an exciting project focused on climate justice. Learn, connect, and take action through in-person workshops (8 & 22 Nov, Dublin) and online sessions (10–12 & 17 Nov, 18:30–20:30). Gain valuable skills in advocacy, communication, and campaigning while working on a mini social media campaign. Find out more here.
Watch and Listen
(1) Irish Rule of Law International: El Salvador’s policy of mass incarceration
On the latest episode of Irish Rule of Law International’s podcast, award-winning journalist and new IRLI Communications Lead Evelyn McClafferty explores mass incarceration in El Salvador and the erosion of the rule of law, including the influence of Trump’s policies in the US. Joining her is Juanita Goebertus Estrada, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch, Colombian lawyer, human rights advocate and former member of the Colombian Congress (2018–2022). She played a key role in Colombia’s peace process and now leads Human Rights Watch’s Americas work on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Listen here.
Other news
(1) Self Help Africa: Shared Office Space Available
We are currently looking for a co-tenant to share our office space in Dublin 1. The proposed arrangement is that the co-tenant would have full use of the office space for 2 days a week, with related costs to be shared on a pro-rata basis. Facilities include 25 workstations, 3 meeting rooms and 1 pod, small kitchen, secure bike parking, secure access. For more information please contact: claire.oregan(at)selfhelpafrica.org or elisa.duncancullen(at)selfhelpafrica.org.