Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, have announced a funding package of €100 million to support ten Irish NGOs engaged in development and humanitarian work overseas. The grants, provided through Irish Aid, will fund projects in 45 countries across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, supporting critical areas such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and other essential services.
The NGOs receiving funding include Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, GOAL, Christian Aid Ireland, Self Help Africa, Oxfam Ireland, World Vision Ireland, Plan International Ireland, Sightsavers Ireland, and Action Aid Ireland. The funded projects will address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development priorities, with a focus on vulnerable populations and on empowering local organizations to deliver sustainable solutions.
This support is part of Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (2023–2027), Irish Aid’s major funding mechanism for trusted Irish international NGOs. The scheme enables partners to respond to crises rapidly, as demonstrated in 2025 with interventions in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia, while also investing in long-term development projects such as schools, hospitals, sustainable food production, and programs promoting gender equality and inclusion.
Minister McEntee highlighted the crucial role of Irish NGOs in delivering life-saving services in the world’s most challenging contexts, emphasizing that Ireland’s international work prioritizes human rights, peacebuilding, and support for the most marginalized. Minister Richmond noted that in a time of declining global development funding, the Irish government’s commitment ensures NGOs can respond quickly to emergencies and invest in the future through projects that strengthen communities and empower women, girls, and minorities.
The Civil Society Partnership scheme operates over a five-year period and integrates funding for long-term development, humanitarian response, global citizenship education, and climate action. Legally binding agreements have been signed with each NGO partner to cover the full 2023–2027 period, with annual contracts specifying operational details. The program’s global reach covers multiple sectors, including health, nutrition, education, climate action, food systems, and emergency responses in fragile states, ensuring targeted support for populations most at risk.
