Irish Aid sponsors ‘Development Matters’ lecture series in IIEA

The ‘Development Matters’ lecture series provides an opportunity for informed public debate on global development issues. The lecture series is a key element of Irish Aid’s partnership with the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA).

The IIEA - Irish Aid Development Matters Series was launched in 2011, and has since brought influential actors in global development to Ireland to address key issues and emerging trends in international development. It promotes informed public engagement in development issues, particularly since the agreement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2017, the Development Matters Series built on that of 2016 and looked at the implementation of the Sustainable Development goals, focusing on health (Relating of SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) and poverty reduction (relating to SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities).

The speakers for the 2017 lecture series included:

Joe McHugh T.D. – Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development;

Dr Selim Jahan – Director of the UNDP's Human Development Report Office;

Volker Türk – Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Office of the United Nations;

Dr Joan Clos – UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Caroline Petit – Deputy Director of the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC);

Dr Mike Ryan – Deputy Executive Director in the WHO Health Emergencies Programme;

Andrew Gilmour – Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);

Pierre Krähenbühl- Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA);

Charlotte Petri Gornitzka – Chair of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee.

2018 promises to be just as exciting with a wide range of topics and speakers lined up. The schedule for 2018 will be released in due course pleasecheck back regularly in 2018 when we will confirm further dates and topics.

*The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) is a think tank and policy research institute based in Dublin. It acts also as a forum, bringing together stakeholders to discuss issues of national, European and international significance.