Impact analysis: Climate Change Community Development Worker

This project aims to plan for, monitor and evaluate the impact of a newly funded Climate Change Community Development Worker role, with a focus on coastal and water-related issues. The project is a collaboration between MaREI, University College Cork – a research institution, and the Youghal Blue and Green Community Network – a community development network with based in Youghal on the south coast of Ireland.

The Climate Change Community Development Worker role is a pilot initiative funded by the Tomar Trust – a philanthropic organisation, and the Irish Government through the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The role will provide a full time Community Development Worker for Youghal Blue and Green Network with a responsibility for overseeing marine and river-based community projects on coastal protection, pollution reduction, engagement with fishers, and community engagement in marine and freshwater matters.

This project will align this role with Mission Ocean aims in terms of ecosystem restoration and citizen engagement and will monitor and evaluate its impact with a view of reporting on the success of the role with the hope of influencing policy to secure funding for the replication of this role around Ireland.