IRC Careers 2026: International Consultant for Somalia’s Voluntary Carbon Market Guidelines: Exciting opportunity

Are you a climate policy expert passionate about shaping national carbon market frameworks? The International Rescue Committee (IRC) invites applications for an exciting role as International Consultant – National Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Framework Development Advisor, based in Mogadishu, Somalia. This part-time, hybrid position offers the opportunity to lead Somalia’s efforts in developing robust, internationally aligned voluntary carbon market guidelines that will support the country’s climate ambitions and participation in global carbon markets.

About the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC has grown into one of the world’s largest international humanitarian organizations. With operations in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, the IRC responds to the world’s most critical humanitarian crises, helping communities restore health, safety, education, economic stability, and hope. IRC employees are dedicated to delivering lasting impact, working with communities to rebuild lives and strengthen institutions.

Joining IRC means working in a dynamic, innovative, and globally connected environment, where your efforts directly contribute to restoring dignity, safety, and opportunity to people affected by conflict and disaster. If you are a solutions-driven professional looking to make a tangible difference, this role is your chance to contribute to Somalia’s climate resilience and sustainable development journey.

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Role Overview: National VCM Framework Development Advisor

The Federal Government of Somalia, a party to the Paris Agreement, is actively advancing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Article 6 readiness, and engagement in international carbon markets. In 2025, Somalia established its Designated National Authority (DNA) to oversee participation in international carbon markets. A recent readiness assessment confirmed Somalia’s strong potential and recommended urgent development of national guidelines and governance frameworks for voluntary and compliance carbon market participation.

The International Consultant will lead the development of Somalia’s National Guidelines for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), ensuring alignment with international standards, Article 6 requirements, and the Paris Agreement. The consultant will also provide technical guidance, quality assurance, and capacity-building support to two national consultants working under this assignment.

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Key Responsibilities

The International Consultant will play a critical role in shaping Somalia’s VCM framework. Core responsibilities include:

• Leading the technical design, structure, and drafting of the National VCM Guidelines.
• Providing technical quality assurance for the national consultants’ desktop review, ensuring consistency with international voluntary carbon standards and global best practices.
• Advising on stakeholder mapping and engagement plans, supporting consultations, and facilitating knowledge transfer.
• Providing remote technical input for the March/April consultation workshop.
• Attending the validation workshop in Mogadishu and integrating stakeholder feedback into revised guidelines.
• Preparing and finalizing all drafts of the National VCM Guidelines, including an executive policy brief.
• Offering strategic guidance to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) and supporting national capacity building.

Collaboration with National Consultants

The International Consultant will closely collaborate with two national consultants who will:

• Conduct a comprehensive desktop review of national climate frameworks, environmental legislation, and DNA mandates.
• Develop the stakeholder mapping and engagement plan for consultations.
• Facilitate the March consultation workshop and prepare its report.
• Provide contextual review and support for drafting the national guidelines.
• Assist in validation workshop logistics and documentation.

The International Consultant will oversee these outputs, ensure technical quality, and foster knowledge transfer throughout the assignment.

Deliverables

The assignment includes the following key deliverables:

1. Inception report and workplan – detailing methodology, approach, and coordination plan.
2. Technical review of national inputs – quality assurance of desktop reviews and stakeholder mapping.
3. Draft national VCM guidelines – incorporating findings from reviews and consultations.
4. Revised national guidelines – updated with feedback from MoECC and stakeholders.
5. Final national guidelines – ready for formal adoption after validation workshop.
6. Validation workshop report – summarizing workshop outputs and inputs into national guidelines.
7. Executive policy brief – for approval by MoECC leadership.

The assignment is expected to be completed in 25 working days between April and June 2026, with mandatory travel to Mogadishu for workshops.

Required Expertise

Applicants must possess:

• Advanced degree in climate policy, environmental law, carbon finance, environmental economics, or related fields.
• At least 10 years of experience in carbon markets or Article 6 mechanisms, including developing national frameworks.
• Strong technical knowledge of environmental integrity, safeguards, benefit-sharing models, MRV systems, and alignment with NDC targets.
• Experience in structuring governance mechanisms for Designated National Authorities.
• Proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder consultations and translate technical inputs into policy-ready documents.
• Familiarity with developing or fragile contexts, with an understanding of climate governance challenges.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and policy-writing skills, with experience producing high-level guidelines or regulatory frameworks.

Technical Evaluation Focus Areas

The role involves addressing four critical technical areas:

1. VCM governance architecture and decision rights – defining approval gates and credible enforcement mechanisms.
2. Standards alignment, integrity risks, and MRV design – selecting relevant international standards and designing feasible MRV approaches.
3. National legal and policy alignment – assessing climate frameworks, land rules, and DNA mandates for carbon ownership and authorization.
4. Stakeholder engagement and safeguards – designing benefit-sharing models, grievance mechanisms, and consultation thresholds.
5. Operationalization and capacity transfer – creating templates, SOPs, and performance metrics for sustainable implementation.

Why Work at IRC?

Working at IRC offers unique professional and personal benefits:

1. Meaningful Work – Contribute to a purpose-driven mission restoring dignity, safety, and hope to millions.
2. Global Scale & Diversity – Collaborate with colleagues worldwide, exchanging insights across cultures and time zones.
3. Challenging & Innovative Environment – Tackle complex global challenges while testing evidence-based, data-led solutions.
4. Empathetic Community – Benefit from robust safety, security, and continuous learning initiatives.
5. Career Advancement – Access opportunities for professional growth, skill development, and leadership in humanitarian innovation.

IRC fosters an inclusive, respectful workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute.

Recruitment Process

The IRC recruitment process typically involves three rounds:

1. Initial conversation with the recruiting team to discuss your goals and experience.
2. Interview with the hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your qualifications and the role.
3. Panel interview assessing role-specific expertise, cross-functional strengths, and alignment with IRC values.

Reference and background checks are conducted prior to finalizing an offer.

Professional Standards

IRC employees uphold the IRC Way standards: Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. IRC implements policies on safeguarding, conflict of interest, fiscal integrity, and protection from retaliation, fostering a safe and ethical workplace.

Final Thoughts

This role represents a rare opportunity to lead Somalia’s voluntary carbon market development at a pivotal moment. By joining IRC as an International Consultant, you will apply your expertise to shape sustainable policy frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and enable Somalia to participate confidently in global carbon markets. This position is ideal for a solutions-driven professional eager to create tangible climate impact in a challenging yet rewarding context.