Jersey Overseas Aid

04/06/2026

Since November 2025, our 13th Programme Associate, Nicole McPhail, has been part of the JOA team, gaining valuable insight into donor operations and the wider international development sector.

From supporting our grant making process to contributing to humanitarian research on crises, she has gained hands-on experience across a range of programmes and contexts.

A highlight Nicole shares was her recent monitoring visit to Malawi, where engaging directly with farmers and project teams highlighted both the scale of impact and the importance of locally-driven solutions.

We’re so proud to support our Programme Associates as they build their skills and contribute to impactful work, and look forward to hearing where Nicole's 12 months with Habitat for Humanity takes her next!

Read her blog here: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/13th-programme-associate/

Jersey Overseas Aid provides international development grants and humanitarian funding to approved partners only. Find out more about how to become a partner.

27/05/2026

4 days to go!

There’s still time to apply for Jersey Overseas Aid’s Junior Professional Officer placement with UNICEF.

This 24-month paid role will place a Jersey resident with UNICEF’s office in East Jerusalem, supporting communications work in a challenging but impactful humanitarian environment.

Deadline: Sunday 31 May 2026 at 17:00 BST.

Find the full job description and application details on our website: https://joa.je/get-involved/jobs/

22/05/2026

Thinking about applying to be JOA’s first UNICEF Junior Professional Officer role?

This is a rare opportunity to gain professional UN experience through a Jersey Overseas Aid funded Junior Professional Officer placement with UNICEF.

The role offers:
- A 24-month paid placement
- Based with UNICEF in East Jerusalem.
- Practical communications experience within a humanitarian context

If you’re a Jersey resident with relevant qualifications and at least two years’ experience, don’t miss this chance to apply.

Applications close: 31 May 2026 at 17:00 BST.

Full details available on our website: https://joa.je/get-involved/jobs/

15/05/2026

What does it take to build sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers?

Not just better farming techniques, but a holistic approach that combines skills, infrastructure, access to water, and strong community support systems.

Our latest blog explores how the Inka Nziza Zikamwa (Phase I) project in Rwanda supported 12,000 farmers to improve dairy production, strengthen incomes, and achieve lasting food security - with food security rising to 94.3%.

Read the full blog: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/inka-nziza-zikamwa-building-sustainable-dairy-based-livelihoods-for-smallholder-farmers/

Ripple Effect

14/05/2026

Reflections from Matty: Inclusion, Learning, and Looking ahead to Tanzania.

Since November, one of our Programme Associates has been working with HelpAge International’s Gender and Inclusion team in London, gaining valuable insight into the importance of inclusive programming and the realities of working within a global NGO network.

From supporting the SCORE programme to contributing to training initiatives and global events like the UN Commission on the Status of Women, this placement has offered hands-on experience in advancing the rights and wellbeing of older people.

A key takeaway Matty highlights, has been the role of intersectionality in understanding the diverse experiences of older people and ensuring programmes are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to real needs.

At JOA, we’re proud to support interns as they build on their skills, deepen their knowledge, and contribute to meaningful, community-led work.

Read the full reflections here: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/reflections-from-matty-s-first-six-months-helpage-international/

Jersey Overseas Aid provides international development grants and humanitarian funding to approved partners only. Find out more about how to become a partner.

12/05/2026

Today is International Day of Plant Health.

Healthy plants are the foundation of food security, sustainable livelihoods and resilient water systems. Yet across low‑income and climate‑vulnerable regions, plant health is increasingly threatened by water scarcity, land degradation and environmental shock.

At Jersey Overseas Aid, we recognise that safeguarding plant health goes hand‑in‑hand with protecting water resources and strengthening community resilience.

During a recent visit to Ethiopia with our partner WaterAid Ethiopia, we saw first‑hand how soil and water conservation measures, combined with access to clean water is supporting ecosystem protection, health, nutrition and food production outcomes.

By investing in locally led solutions that connect water security with agricultural and ecological health, communities are better prepared to withstand climate pressures and protect the natural resources they rely on.

Read the full blog on our website: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/rooted-in-responsibility-how-guddifachaa-is-strengthening-environmental-stewardship/.

Madda Walabu University MELCA-Ethiopia WaterAid UK

07/05/2026

Thinking about applying for Jersey Overseas Aid’s first UNICEF Junior Professional Officer role?

Jersey Overseas Aid is offering a Jersey resident the opportunity to work with UNICEF as a Junior Professional Officer (JPO), gaining experience within the United Nations in a humanitarian context.

Based in East Jerusalem, the successful candidate will support UNICEF’s communications work, contributing to advocacy, reporting, and programme visibility, while developing essential skills for a future career in international development.

Full job details and applicant requirements are available on our website: https://joa.je/get-involved/jobs/

Deadline: Sunday 31 May 2026 at 17:00 BST

Interested in previous JOA JPO experiences? Read reflections from Amber Mezbourian and Leila Osman on working in the field and developing a career within the UN system: https://joa.je/news-insights/2025/un-junior-professional-officer-amber-mezbourian-shares-her-experiences-working-in-cox-s-bazar/

30/04/2026

Could you be Jersey Overseas Aid’s next UN Junior Professional Officer?

Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) is seeking to recruit its first United Nations Junior Professional Officer (JPO) in partnership with UNICEF. The 24-month JPO programme gives young professionals from Jersey a direct entry point into the United Nations system, while contributing to real humanitarian and development challenges.

The successful candidate will be placed with UNICEF’s State of Palestine office in East Jerusalem, working as a Communication Officer and contributing to vital humanitarian efforts aimed at improving the lives and rights of children.

This marks an exciting expansion of JPO partnerships for JOA, building on its established track record of five previous placements in collaboration with UNHCR.

Key details:

Role: Communication Officer
Location: East Jerusalem
Duration: 24 months (fully funded)
Application deadline: Sunday 31 May 2026 at 17:00 BST

To learn more and download the full job description, visit: https://joa.je/get-involved/jobs/

Interested in hearing first-hand experiences of the programme? Read blogs from former JPOs Amber Mezbourian and Leila Osman, who share their insights on working in the field and building a career within the UN system: https://joa.je/news-insights/2025/un-junior-professional-officer-amber-mezbourian-shares-her-experiences-working-in-cox-s-bazar/

24/04/2026

What really expands women’s access to finance?

Not just technology, but financial services built on trust and shaped by women entrepreneurs’ realities.

Our latest blog reflects on learnings from JOA’s recent monitoring visit to Ethiopia, where we explored how Accion International and fintech partners are supporting women entrepreneurs through inclusive, sustainable financial services.

Read the full impact blog: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/expanding-women-s-access-to-finance-in-ethiopia-learnings-from-a-joa-monitoring-visit/

22/04/2026

Today is Earth Day.

Across the world, environmental degradation puts immense pressure on fragile ecosystems - from wetlands and freshwater lakes to the species and human communities that rely on them. These impacts are felt most acutely by people already facing climate and economic pressures, where loss of biodiversity threatens livelihoods, food security and resilience.

At Jersey Overseas Aid, we support locally led Conservation Livelihoods that protect vulnerable species and habitats while benefitting the communities who depend on them.

In Nepal, through our partnership with the British Red Cross and Nepal Red Cross Society, communities living around Raptauna Lake are restoring a vital wetland ecosystem. Once degraded and prone to flooding - putting people, wildlife and farmland at risk - the lake has been revitalised using nature‑based solutions designed and delivered by local residents.

Today, Raptauna Lake supports year‑round farming, improves soil health and provides a reliable water source during periods of scarcity and emergency. The restored habitat also creates safer conditions for freshwater species and local biodiversity, while plans for sustainable fish farming can open up new income opportunities for families.

When communities are empowered as stewards of their natural landscapes, protecting and benefitting from biodiversity go hand-in-hand - creating a pathway to resilience for people and the planet.

Read the full blog on our website: https://joa.je/news-insights/2026/earth-day-2026-our-power-our-planet/

Jersey Overseas Aid provides international development grants and humanitarian funding to approved partners only. Find out more about how to become a partner.