Ministers Flanagan & Sherlock announce over €60 million in funding for Irish NGOs

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D., and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Cooperation, Seán Sherlock T.D., have today announced €61.34 million funding for 2016 to be allocated to Irish aid organisations carrying out long-term development programmes across Africa, Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East. 

The funding will support Irish Aid’s Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) partners in carrying out programmes which address the root causes of poverty, build resilience and help prevent future crises.  

The work of these Irish development NGO’s complements the work of the Government’s aid programme, Irish Aid, in the areas of health, nutrition, livelihoods, agriculture, education, social protection, governance and human rights. 

This funding is the fifth year of the current programme under which 16 Irish aid organisations, including Concern Worldwide, Trócaire and GOAL, deliver sustainable development aid to poor communities.  

Announcing the funding, Minister Flanagan said: 

“Ireland is again showing its determination to support the fight against poverty, hunger and marginalisation.   

“Ireland is making a sustained contribution to humanitarian support for those caught up in conflicts such as those affected by the conflict in Syria. Long-term development is equally critical and Ireland is supporting work that benefits the poorest, where it is needed most and where it has greatest effect.” 

Minister Sherlock added: 

“Our Irish partner aid organisations have a unique ability to reach the most vulnerable in society, to help sustain livelihoods and education, to build resilience and promote human rights and good governance. These goals are shared by Irish Aid and our valued civil society partners. 

“This allocation of over €60 million to long-term development underlines our continued commitment to achieving the vision of sustainable development agreed by all member states of the United Nations last year.”

ENDS