Funding of €16.49 million will be provided by Ireland to help reduce poverty and protect human rights in developing countries. A total of fourteen non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will receive grants to improve lives overseas.
The funding will contribute to the provision of quality education in under-served communities, promote rights, and help smallholder farmers run climate-smart farms.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said: “In a time where the world is faced with unprecedented challenges, the broader repercussions of which are most acutely felt by vulnerable communities, I am pleased to announce funding for these fourteen organizations who work in close partnership with local communities. Their projects will contribute to tackling poverty and inequality, work to mitigate the effects of climate change, and promote the protection of and respect for human rights.”
Support reaches furthest behind first
Grants provided under the Civil Society Fund primarily support Irish NGOs to carry out development projects overseas, however, the grants are also open to a small number of international NGOs working on human rights.
Minister of State for International Development Seán Fleming added: “I have seen at first hand the benefits brought to such communities through the work of our NGO partners. Ireland’s support reaches the furthest behind first.”
Irish Aid, the Government’s Development Cooperation Programme, is managed by the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The organizations that have been approved for funding under the 2024 Civil Society Fund are: Aidlink, A Partnership with Africa, Brighter Communities Worldwide, Children in Crossfire, Christian Blind Mission Ireland, Help Age International, International Federation for Human Rights, Irish League of Credit Unions International Development Foundation, Minority Rights Group International, Nepal Leprosy Trust, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Serve in Solidarity, University College Cork, and Vita.