Not every job lets you combine technical expertise with genuine social impact. This one does. Innovators 4 Climate Action (ICA) Foundation Kenya is recruiting a Program Officer – Economic Empowerment to lead transformative livelihoods work in Mombasa — and if you are passionate about climate justice, feminist development, and sustainable agriculture, you need to read every word of this post.

ICA Kenya is not a typical NGO. It is a feminist climate justice organization that places Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer (LBQ) women and other marginalized communities at the center of climate solutions. Their work weaves together economic justice, community empowerment, and environmental action in ways that are rare, intentional, and deeply community-driven.

About Innovators 4 Climate Action

ICA Foundation Kenya was built on a simple but radical premise: that climate action cannot be just unless it includes the voices and leadership of those most affected by both climate change and social marginalization. The organization advances a climate-resilient world by centering LBQ women and marginalized communities in everything it designs and delivers.

Their programming is grounded in three values — Inclusion, Innovation, and Integrity. Projects like the Eco-Dada Initiative, their flagship ecological farming and livelihoods model, demonstrate what happens when community knowledge and feminist principles meet practical agricultural development. This is not theoretical work. It produces tangible outcomes in people's lives.

What the Program Officer Role Involves

As Program Officer – Economic Empowerment, you will take the lead on ICA's Economic Justice programming, including day-to-day management of the Eco-Dada Initiative and supervision of its Field Operator. This is a hands-on leadership role — strategic thinking and practical delivery must coexist comfortably in how you work.

Here is what most applicants overlook at this stage: the role is not limited to fieldwork. You will also be responsible for building donor relationships, supporting fundraising, and producing high-quality reports that communicate impact to external partners. Strong writing and stakeholder communication skills matter as much as technical agriculture knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of ICA's Economic Empowerment program
• Oversee the Eco-Dada Initiative and supervise the Field Operator
• Develop market linkages and strengthen value chains for sustainable income generation
• Facilitate training and mentorship sessions for program participants
• Track program impact, document learning, and support knowledge production
• Build partnerships and support fundraising and donor reporting activities

Who ICA Is Looking For

Before you move on, consider this carefully: ICA is not simply looking for someone with a strong CV in agriculture. They want a professional who is technically capable AND deeply aligned with feminist, inclusive, and community-centered development. Both dimensions carry equal weight in this selection process.

Required Qualifications and Attributes

• At least 3 to 5 years of experience in livelihoods, agriculture, or community development
• Strong knowledge of sustainable agriculture, agroecology, or value chain development
• Genuine passion for climate justice, gender justice, and work with marginalized communities
• Demonstrated leadership, coordination, and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to think strategically while supporting practical, ground-level implementation
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships

Why This Role Is Worth Pursuing

There is no shortage of NGO jobs in Kenya. What makes this one stand out is the quality of the mission and the specificity of the work. ICA is not a large bureaucratic institution — it is a values-driven team where individual contributions are visible and consequential. You will not be a cog in a machine. You will help shape how a growing feminist climate movement operates on the ground.

This next part is where strong applications fall apart — candidates who focus only on the technical deliverables miss the bigger picture. ICA is building something longer-term: a model of livelihoods and climate resilience that can be replicated and scaled. The person who gets this job will be a co-architect of that model, not merely an implementer of someone else's design.

• Join a growing feminist climate justice movement at a formative stage
• Work on innovative, community-led models like the Eco-Dada Initiative
• Contribute directly to sustainable livelihoods and broader systems change
• Be part of a passionate, values-driven team committed to inclusion and integrity

How to Apply — Step by Step

The application process is straightforward, but the preparation behind a strong submission is not. Follow these steps carefully and do not leave any element out.

• Prepare a CV of no more than 3 pages. Focus on livelihoods, agriculture, and community development experience. Quantify your impact wherever possible.
• Write a cover letter of no more than 1 page. Address your technical background AND your personal alignment with feminist climate justice values. This letter carries significant weight.
• Combine your CV and cover letter into a single email. Address it to info@icakenya.org with the subject line: Application – Program Officer Economic Empowerment.
• Submit before the deadline of 21 April 2026. Applications received after this date are unlikely to be considered regardless of their quality.
• Wait for feedback. ICA will reach out to shortlisted candidates directly. If you have not heard within two weeks of the deadline, follow up politely via the same email address.