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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., and The Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Mr. Colm Brophy, T.D., today announced funding of over €9 million to 14 civil society organisations to carry out development projects overseas, including €6 million in grants to Irish organisations.

Announcing the funding, Minister Coveney said:

 Support for civil society is an integral part of Ireland’s overseas development programme and our goal to reach the ‘furthest behind first’. Throughout the developing world, our civil society organisations deliver essential services to vulnerable and marginalised communities and advocate for their rights, often in complex environments.

Today’s funding announcement continues that strong partnership with civil society. It will support civil society organisations carry out activities in over forty countries including initiatives in education, health, human rights, peacebuilding and sustainable livelihoods.

 COVID-19 has challenged us all and we have to learn to do things differently in order to continue to deliver essential programmes for those most in need. I am particularly pleased to see the innovative ways the organisations receiving grants today have adapted their programmes to deal with the impact of pandemic related restrictions.

Minister of State Brophy added:

Whether working with communities at grassroots level or advocating for human rights and the protection of civil society space at international fora these innovative projects will help deliver tangible change to the lives of some of the most vulnerable including in fragile contexts such as Sierra Leone and Yemen.

The organisations receiving funding announced today deliver a diverse range of development and human rights related programmes that include; help people access education, especially young girls; increase rights for those living with disabilities; empower minority and indigenous peoples to achieve their rights; improve women’s access to information; strengthen health systems; support peacebuilding initiatives and help people build sustainable livelihoods.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

• Ireland’s Overseas Development Assistance Programme is managed by the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. For further information see www.irishaid.ie

• The Civil Society Fund (CSF) is the Department’s main development project funding scheme. It primarily supports Irish NGOs to carry out development projects overseas of between one and three years duration. A small number of international NGOs working on human rights are also invited to apply. The maximum available grant is €400,000 per annum.

• The organisations which have been approved for funding under the 2021 CSF are: A Partnership with Africa, Aidlink, Brighter Communities Worldwide, Christian Blind Mission Ireland, International Federation of Human Rights, Irish League of Credit Unions Foundation, Minority Rights Group International, Nepal Leprosy Trust, Proudly Made in Africa, Saferworld, Serve in Solidarity, the Carter Center, University College Cork, and War on Want Northern Ireland.

• Accountability for funding across all of Irish Aid programmes is of paramount importance. The Department of Foreign Affairs has robust controls, monitoring, follow-up and evaluation mechanisms in place to ensure high levels of transparency and accountability and that funds are disbursed as provided for in the relevant contracts.

• All funding provided through the development cooperation programme adheres to a Grant Management Standard, which includes carrying out reviews as well as rigorous appraisals of applications, reports, evaluations and the submission of audited accounts by grant recipients.

• The Grant Management Standard also includes ensuring that grantees meet the requirements of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular on Managing and Accountability of Grants from Exchequer Funds.