Minister McEntee and Minister Richmond announce funding of €100 million for Irish civil society organisations

Minister McEntee and Minister Richmond announce funding of €100 million for Irish civil society organisations

• From: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Published on: 1 January 2026
• Last updated on: 1 January 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, today announced funding of €100 million to ten NGO partners to carry out important development and humanitarian work overseas.

The grants, provided by Irish Aid, will deliver a wide range of development, humanitarian and climate projects in 45 countries across Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Asia and Oceania. These projects will help people to access education, healthcare, nutrition and a range of other vital areas.

The ten NGO partners to receive funding are: Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, GOAL, Christian Aid Ireland, Self Help Africa, Oxfam Ireland, World Vision Ireland, Plan International Ireland, Sightsavers Ireland, and Action Aid Ireland.

Projects supported by this funding will focus on both immediate humanitarian response and long-term development. Projects will focus on the most vulnerable populations, striving to reach the furthest behind first, and aims to empower local organisations.

The funding is being provided through Ireland's Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (2023-2027), Irish Aid's major funding scheme for trusted Irish international NGOs who have proven capacity to deliver results. In 2025, funding under this scheme was mobilised for rapid response to crises, including those in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia.

Announcing the funding, Minister McEntee said: "Ireland's International NGOs have a long-standing reputation when it comes to improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable people. They deliver essential, life-saving services in the most dire circumstances.

"Ireland's work around the world is rooted in strengthening human rights, building peace and supporting the people left furthest behind. Our partnerships with NGOs are central to this. In a world facing great volatility, the vital work of Ireland's NGOs, supported by the Government through Irish Aid, offers a glimmer of hope for a better world".

Minister Richmond said: "At a time when funding for development and humanitarian work is decreasing globally, I am proud that the Government, through Irish Aid, is recommitting its support to the vital work carried out by our NGO partners.

"This funding will allow our partners to respond quickly when humanitarian disasters strike. It will also allow them to invest in future generations by it funding schools, hospitals, sustainable food production and striving to ensure that women, girls and other minorities have every opportunity in life."

Notes:

• Ireland's Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (2023-2027) covers the five-year period of 2023 to 2027 inclusive and integrates funding for long-term development programmes, long-term humanitarian programmes and emergency response. It also incorporates global citizenship education and climate action. The scheme enables NGOs to respond to the needs of those furthest behind.
• Ten NGOs receive funding through the scheme. These are Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, GOAL, Christian Aid Ireland, Self Help Africa, Oxfam Ireland, World Vision Ireland, Plan International Ireland, Sightsavers Ireland, and Action Aid Ireland.
• Five-year Memorandums of Understanding were signed with each partner organisation at the beginning of the scheme to cover the full period, i.e. 2023 to 2027. Legally binding contracts are also signed annually with each partner, following appropriate approval.
• The scheme has a global footprint. It is being implemented in forty-five countries across Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Programmes are implemented across a range of sectors, including health and nutrition provision, gender equality, education, climate action, and food systems. The scheme also provides funding to partners responding to chronic humanitarian crises in mainly fragile states, as well as those implementing global citizenship education programmes in Ireland. All partners are receiving specific funding for climate action.

ENDS

Press Office

1 January 2026