Embassy of Ireland, Pretoria

01/09/2026

Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, Austin Gormley pays tribute to Mary Robinson on the occasion of her receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of The Western Cape in recognition of a life committed to human rights, gender equality and climate justice.🌍

As President of Ireland she built on a legal career that advocated for marginalised people in society. Her Presidency transformed the role into an outward-looking advocate for social inclusion and peace and reconciliation. 🕊️

Her tenure as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 🇺🇳 revolved strongly around the theme of African development. She argued that human rights, poverty reduction and sustainable development were inseparable. She highlighted the impact of conflict, inequality, HIV/AIDS and debt on African societies and worked to ensure that economic and social rights received greater international attention.

The Mary Robinson Centre

31/08/2026

Recently, members of our Embassy team visited communities supported by the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF), where we met farmers preparing for future climate shocks, including the impacts of recurring El Niño events, and visited conservation sites working to restore degraded land.

In these photos, a local farmer demonstrates practical techniques to protect soil moisture and safeguard crops during periods of drought, while a community conservationist presents a project designed to combat soil erosion and land degradation.

As Zimbabwe continues to experience increasingly severe climate pressures, including the drought conditions associated with El Niño, investments in climate adaptation and resilience are more important than ever. Ireland's development cooperation programme prioritises climate resilience, supporting vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change, strengthen livelihoods and sustainably manage natural resources.

The work of the ZRBF contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), helping communities improve food security, build resilience to climate shocks and protect the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend.

The latest climate science highlights the urgency of this work. The IPCC has concluded that climate change is increasing the risks of drought, land degradation and food insecurity, while sustainable land management, soil conservation and locally led adaptation are among the most effective approaches for building resilience in vulnerable regions.

The ZRBF demonstrates how long-term partnerships, local knowledge and targeted investment can help communities prepare for climate variability, including El Niño-driven shocks, while creating pathways to more sustainable, resilient and prosperous futures.



United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
EU Delegation to Zimbabwe

06/08/2026

This week the Ambassador kicked off Women’s Month celebrations in collaboration with the Charlotte Maxeke Online and The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa and a host of diplomatic missions in Pretoria.

Each mission honoured a heroine from our history who embodied the spirit of women’s month and the fight for women’s rights - The Embassy nominated former President Mary Robinson. In his remarks, the Ambassador paid tribute to her “enduring global legacy” particularly in Africa, where as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights “she placed human rights and the heart of international development, traveling extensively across the African continent to advocate for justice, peace and accountable governance.”

More recently, she has worked to highlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations - arguing that those who contribute least to climate change should not bear its greatest burdens.

The ceremony included the unveiling of a new portrait of President Robinson as part of the exhibition honoring each of the countries heroines and the leaders of the South African women’s rights movement. A massive thank you to the wonderful Bamanye Gugu from East London for his fantastic depiction. The exhibition will now begin a tour of South Africa, showcasing and championing women from around the world.

We would also like to thank the Honourable Ministers Khumbudzo Ntshaveni and Sibusisiwe Chikunga for their inspiring remarks and for officially opening the exhibition.

The Mary Robinson Centre

20/07/2026

⏳ Just one week left to apply. Applications for the Ireland Fellows Programme close on Monday 27 July 2026.

The Programme offers a fully funded master’s at a world-class Irish university — tuition, return flights, accommodation and living costs — for early- to mid-career professionals ready to lead change at home.

If you’ve started an application, now is the time to complete and submit it. We’d encourage you not to wait until the final day, so you have time to finalise your supporting documents.

Read the full criteria and apply: ireland.ie/IrelandFellowsProgramme

12/07/2026

' "journey into isiZulu reminds us that literature travels most powerfully when it crosses linguistic and cultural boundaries and returns us to the urgent questions of our own time"

Some years ago, the Embassy of Ireland sponsored a translation of excerpts of Ulysses in isiZulu, and it has formed the center of Johannesburg's celebrations since.

In this article, Professor Tinashe Mushakavanhu from Harvard University's Department of African and African American Studies explores why translations like this matter:

"African languages are not peripheral to global literary culture but active participants in it, capable of carrying, reshaping and reinterpreting some of the most demanding works ever written."

Explore the full article in The Conversation Africa below:

Writers from very different places can grapple with the same questions.

11/07/2026

📢 We're hiring!

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria is seeking a Public Diplomacy and Information Officer to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a professional individual with experience in public diplomacy (culture and sports), media engagement, digital communications and stakeholder engagement to help strengthen partnerships in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Mauritius.

📍 Position based at Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria
🗓️ Application deadline: 31 July

For full details about the role, eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit:
https://www.ireland.ie/en/southafrica/pretoria/about/job-opportunities/vacancy-public-diplomacy-and-information-officer/

Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested.

03/07/2026

Interested in a fully funded Master's study in Ireland?

The Department of Higher Education and Training and the Embassy of Ireland invite you to an online information session on the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme (2027–2028).

Learn about eligibility requirements, the fields of study on offer, the application process and tips for a strong submission, plus a live Q&A with programme representatives.

Wednesday 08 July 2026, 12:00 SAST, on Microsoft Teams.

Click here to register: fe9b8211-d0a0-410b-9ed4-e51efbda0148@089f80dc-4337-4cd3-a332-5e782b847570" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/fe9b8211-d0a0-410b-9ed4-e51efbda0148@089f80dc-4337-4cd3-a332-5e782b847570

01/07/2026

"Ireland’s EU Presidency is rooted in three priorities: competitiveness, values, security. When Europe looks at how to build our markets, strengthen our security and uphold the values of peace and cooperation that are the foundation of our Union, the common link between these priorities is development cooperation."

Minister for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD writes as Ireland takes on the EU Presidency today.

Read the full article on Ireland's official EU Presidency website: https://irish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/ireland-s-presidency-will-ensure-a-focus-on-development-cooperation/

30/06/2026

Applications for the 2027-2028 Ireland Fellows Programme are now open!

The Ireland Fellows Programme offers early-to-mid career professionals from eligible countries the opportunity to undertake a fully funded Masters level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland, in areas linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The programme promotes gender equality, equal opportunity and welcomes diversity.


For South African applicants: https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/kader-asmal-fellowship-programme/

For Zimbabwean and Basotho candidates: https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/ireland-fellows-programme-africa/

For Mauritian candidates:
https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/ireland-fellows-programme-sids/

28/06/2026

🇮🇪WE’RE HIRING

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria is looking for a Head of Administration.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and help support Ireland’s diplomatic mission in South Africa.

📍 Pretoria
📋 Leadership role
🌍 Work in an international environment

For more information visit https://www.ireland.ie/en/southafrica/pretoria/about/job-opportunities/vacany-head-of-administration