Global Carbon Coordinator

Self Help Africa; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An international development organization is seeking a Global Carbon Coordinator. This role focuses on maximizing carbon credit generation and securing climate finance for development projects. Candidates should have experience in project management, strong analytical skills, and a background in environmental science. The position involves working with various stakeholders to enhance understanding of carbon credits and oversee climate finance activities, ensuring sustainable benefits to communities. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact climate initiatives across multiple countries.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Experience in managing carbon portfolios and climate finance projects.
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating project viability.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive carbon and climate finance activities across the organization.
• Manage the carbon portfolio and maximize carbon credit generation.
• Support country teams in understanding policy requirements.

Skills

Carbon credit generation

Project management

Financial projections

Understanding of climate finance

Education

Degree in relevant field (e.g., environmental science)

Job description

Job ID: 84905

Job Title: Global Carbon Coordinator

Company: Self Help Africa

Location: Remote based in Ireland or UK, or any SHA Country Office

Contract type: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Reports to: Director of Public Engagement

About Self Help Africa

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri‑enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change. We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long‑term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

In early 2023 we launched a new five‑year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community‑led, market‑based and enterprise‑focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro‑finance provider. Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever‑changing World.
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Job Purpose

From tree planting to cook stoves to the provision of wells and boreholes, carbon sequestration and reduction of green house gas emissions are key benefits of our work. The role of Carbon Coordinator is key to ensuring we are maximising opportunities for generating carbon credits from, and availing of climate finance towards, our development projects.

This role is central to the achievement of SHA’s goal of attracting climate finance and is part of the Business Development team, working closely with the Programmes Department. The job holder will lead the global carbon co‑ordination working group bringing together the Technical Advisors across our specialist team who are responsible for climate smart agriculture, energy and WASH. The jobholder will be responsible for maintaining an overview of carbon credit supply and offset sales progress and develop the capacities needed to sustain and scale carbon credit generation. The Carbon Coordinator works closely with multiple departments and functions across Self Help Africa, including with the Director of Public Engagement, the Global Team of Advisors particularly with those covering Agriculture, Enterprise, WASH, the Country Directors overseeing the program delivery of carbon projects and with the Programmes Team in the design and delivery projects.

Key Responsibilities

In particular, in this role you will drive the delivery of carbon & climate finance activities across SHA to maximise options for monetising emissions reductions. This will include leading the planning, development and reporting of a business case that ensures maximum benefits accrue to communities and national governments while generating a sustainable financial contribution to the organisation.

You will work to grow Self Help Africa’s organisational understanding of the requirements of, and potential for, certified carbon credit generation from our international development work.

You will support and collaborate with the Technical Advisors to advise the country teams on the requirements of certified carbon crediting and support the strengthening of internal capacity to deliver the steps required to ensure compliance with the requirements of carbon partners and the accrediting bodies.

• Manage SHA/UP’s carbon portfolio in terms of countries, partners, funding & investment, carbon sources and certification standards.
• Maximise opportunities to generate carbon credits from, and avail of climate finance towards for our development projects with Country Programmes and thematic advisors.
• Develop financial projections and evaluate the viability of different initiatives from a donor funded and private pre‑funding/sales of credits, working closely with Finance.
• Keep a global watch on carbon market dynamics, prices, upcoming trends, risks and opportunities.
• Advise on commercial aspects of partnerships and contracts with carbon partners (and supporting the scoping of potential additional partners).
• Manage existing carbon financing contracts.
• Support the country teams and Technical Advisors on understanding national policies that will influence or impact on our ability to sell carbon credits on behalf of communities.
• Finalise and roll out the carbon benefit sharing policy.
• Provide support to country teams in understanding wider compliance measures and standards (e.g. climate finance / carbon project expectations of governments).
• Develop appropriate marketing strategies for carbon credits and securing investment in new projects.
• Act as the focal point for organisational knowledge management around carbon & climate finance.
• Consolidate technical resources and information on carbon across SHA/UP.
• Manage the database of all carbon credits (covering the supply‑side forecasting as well as sales) and other payments for ecosystem services generated by the organisation for easy marketing and trade.
• Support the design and development of new carbon projects, working closely with relevant country and global teams.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Country Directors and their teams (e.g. relevant Programme and Project Managers)
• Technical Advisers
• Global Programmes and Business Development teams
• Group CEO
• Finance team

External

External specialist partners, including technical carbon project developers, offset retailers, donors, direct credit offtake clients, carbon certifiers and registries, and impact investors.

How to Apply

Full Job Description here.

Please complete the application form and upload your CV outlining your suitability for the role here.

The closing date for applications is Friday 19th December 2025.

Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer

All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. Specific roles may require Police/DBS/ vetting.

Important information

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self‑declaration, references, and other pre‑employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!

Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.