Climate & Economic Empowerment Lead at Plan International: Advancing Climate Justice and Youth Livelihoods|Apply by 12 Jul 2026

The role of Climate & Economic Empowerment Lead at Plan International represents a high-level global leadership opportunity focused on addressing some of the most urgent and interconnected challenges of our time: climate change, gender inequality, and youth unemployment. This position sits at the intersection of policy, programming, and advocacy, with a strong emphasis on building resilient futures for girls, young people, and marginalized communities across the world.

About Plan International and Its Global Mission

Plan International is a globally recognized humanitarian and development organization working in over 80 countries. Its mission is rooted in advancing children’s rights and achieving gender equality, with a particular focus on empowering girls who are disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination, and crisis.

Key areas of focus include:

• Children’s rights and protection from violence and exploitation
• Gender equality and empowerment of girls and young women
• Education access and quality learning opportunities
• Humanitarian response and disaster resilience
• Livelihood development and youth empowerment

The organization operates on a long-term vision of a just and equal world where all children can realize their full potential, regardless of gender or background.

Understanding the Purpose of the Role

The Climate & Economic Empowerment Lead is designed to strengthen Plan International’s global response to climate change while integrating economic empowerment strategies for young people. This role is not only technical but deeply strategic, shaping how the organization approaches climate resilience in vulnerable communities.

Core objectives of the role include:

• Developing a global vision for climate resilience and economic empowerment
• Strengthening youth and gender-focused livelihood systems
• Embedding climate justice into development and humanitarian programming
• Influencing global policy and donor investment priorities
• Ensuring programs are inclusive, evidence-based, and community-driven

This position plays a critical role in ensuring that climate action is not separate from social and economic development but fully integrated into it.

Driving Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Development

A major responsibility of this role is to ensure that Plan International’s programs are responsive to the realities of climate-affected communities. This involves designing approaches that strengthen resilience while improving livelihoods, especially for young people and girls.

Key focus areas include:

• Linking climate adaptation with economic opportunities
• Supporting sustainable livelihood systems in vulnerable regions
• Strengthening community-based resilience strategies
• Promoting climate-smart education and skills development
• Ensuring inclusion of marginalized groups in all programming

The role requires a deep understanding of how climate change disproportionately affects girls and young people, especially in fragile and resource-constrained settings.

Leadership in Strategy, Influence, and Partnerships

This is a global leadership role that requires strong influencing skills and the ability to work across complex systems. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping organizational strategy and engaging with external stakeholders, including donors, governments, and global institutions.

Key leadership responsibilities include:

• Setting strategic direction for climate and livelihoods programming
• Representing the organization in global climate and development forums
• Building partnerships with donors and funding agencies
• Contributing to climate finance and resource mobilization strategies
• Translating field evidence into advocacy and policy influence

The role demands the ability to work within a matrixed organization while maintaining alignment across global, regional, and country teams.

Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment at the Core

A defining feature of this position is its strong focus on gender-transformative and youth-led approaches. Plan International places girls and young people at the center of its work, and this role ensures that climate solutions are inclusive and equitable.

Key principles include:

• Gender-transformative programming that challenges inequality
• Youth participation in decision-making processes
• Inclusion of disability, migration, and indigenous perspectives
• Focus on intersectionality in program design
• Community-driven solutions rooted in local realities

This approach ensures that climate action contributes not only to environmental sustainability but also to social justice.

Knowledge, Evidence, and Innovation

The role also emphasizes the importance of evidence-based decision-making. Strong analytical and research skills are required to transform field data into actionable strategies and advocacy messages.

Key responsibilities in this area include:

• Translating research into program design improvements
• Capturing lessons from climate-affected communities
• Strengthening organizational learning and innovation systems
• Developing compelling narratives for advocacy and funding
• Supporting knowledge-sharing across global teams

This ensures that programming remains adaptive, relevant, and impactful in changing global contexts.

Key Skills and Professional Requirements

Candidates for this role are expected to bring a strong combination of technical expertise and leadership capability. The position requires experience in international development or humanitarian settings, particularly in climate and livelihoods programming.

Essential qualifications include:

• 5–9 years of experience in development or climate-related work
• Strong expertise in climate resilience and economic empowerment
• Experience in fragile or climate-affected environments
• Understanding of gender-transformative and youth-led approaches
• Experience with donor engagement and climate finance mechanisms
• Strong communication and external representation skills
• Ability to influence within complex global systems

These competencies ensure the ability to operate effectively at a strategic global level.

Conclusion: A Role with Global Impact

The Climate & Economic Empowerment Lead role at Plan International is a powerful opportunity for a seasoned development professional to shape global responses to climate change and inequality. It combines strategic leadership, advocacy, and program innovation in a way that directly impacts the lives of girls, young people, and vulnerable communities.

By integrating climate resilience with economic empowerment and gender equality, this role contributes to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.

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