Submissions open for the Iris Project

The Iris Project is led by youth, for youth, and is run by a paid and inclusive Advisory Panel and team. Their Advisory Panel is made up of climate activists from various parts of the world including Nepal, Indonesia, Brazil, and Costa Rica. They are looking to recruit ONE new Advisor under 30 years old to join The Iris Project Advisory Panel and support their mission to protect and restore nature, as well as improve the lives of those dedicated to its protection. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of individuals who share our values and work towards safeguarding ecosystems worldwide. Through the annual Iris Prize, you will play a crucial role in identifying and supporting future environmental leaders.

By joining The Iris Project Advisory Panel, you will gain access to a global network of individuals and organisations working to advance the objectives of The Iris Project. Not only will you acquire leadership and mentoring experience, but you will have an opportunity to develop a range of skills including in monitoring and evaluation, communications, and capacity-building.

Focus Area

• Raise awareness about The Iris Project and recruit applicants for the annual Iris Prize via physical and or digital outreach.
• Assess and review Iris Prize applications against set scoring criteria, interview shortlisted candidates and help create the final shortlist from which their Judging Panel selects the final winners.
• Mentor Prize Winners to manage prize grants, develop their projects and allocate funds.
• Work closely with Prize winners to guide and identify their capacity building needs.
• Support Prize winners to evaluate the impact of their project in terms of driving the protection and restoration of nature, the funds received and the capacity building and mentorship support provided. Please note that The Iris Project’s core team will support with this, as will their capacity-building partners.
• Work with The Iris Project core team to manage The Iris Project community in terms of connections, events (conferences), sharing learnings across the community and emphasizing the importance of youth-focused environmental philanthropy.
• Comply with The Iris Project’s safeguarding standards by completing a safeguarding training session and adhering to The Iris Project’s data protection policy and safeguarding policy.

Funding Information

• The selected candidate will be expected to join The Iris Project panel for a minimum two-year term and will be paid a stipend for doing so.

Eligibility Criteria

• They are looking for one outstanding new panel member to join their existing Advisory Panel from any of the following regions: Southern Africa, West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Please only apply if you are based in these regions. This opening is to replace one of their three longstanding Advisors, as they have already filled the other two positions through internal recruitment.
• They are hoping to recruit an individual with a diverse range of environmental experience including nature stewardship (example- marine, terrestrial, rainforest), active land management (example- agriculture, human wildlife conflict) and climate and environmental activism.
• They are looking for a proactive young leader, who is a self-starter, willing to get stuck in to help shape The Iris Project and ensure it continues to be an initiative led by young people, for young people.
• Individuals applying should:
  • Have proven experience working to protect and restore nature, and the rights of those working to defend it and or engaging in youth activism and or leading or working on youth-led environmental projects.
  • Have robust links to youth networks (global and local) through which they can spread the word about The Iris Project and Iris Prize and encourage people to apply.
  • Be under 30 years of age.
  • Be from one of the following regions: Southern Africa, West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

For more information, visit The Iris Project.