Launch of the Government of Ireland Official Development Assistance Annual Report 2019

Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Defence, Simon Coveney, T.D., and Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, T.D, will launch the 2019 Annual Report on Ireland’s Official Development Assistance today, 10 November 2020.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the Annual Report 2019, Minister Coveney said:

“The events of this past year have brought into sharp focus the importance of collective action to address global challenges. This annual report on Ireland’s development cooperation programme shows what we, as a small country, can achieve in partnership with others. All Irish citizens can be immensely proud of this work and the difference it makes to the lives of millions of people around the world”.

The Minister continued:

“2019 was an important year for Ireland’s foreign policy. I launched A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, as well as our new Africa Strategy and a Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States. Taken together, these strategies build on Ireland’s track record of delivering for those who are furthest behind and the most vulnerable and provide a framework for addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges in the years ahead”.

The 2019 annual report has a particular focus on Ireland’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Colm Brophy, T.D., said:

“Gender equality is a fundamental human right. It is an essential driver of sustainable development. However, there are those who are pushing back against gender equality. We in Ireland have over our lifetimes travelled a journey on gender equality. Our story resonates with others. Our journey has helped make Irish Aid a global champion on gender equality and development, with the proportion of Irish Aid targeting gender equality consistently among the highest in the OECD. That is why I thought it important that this year’s Irish Aid Annual Report focused on the important contributions Irish Aid is making to enable gender equality, including through our partnerships at the United Nations, with civil society and with countries in development. ”

ENDS

Press Office

10 November 2020

Notes for Editors

Key headlines:

Ireland’s development and humanitarian assistance reaches more than 130 countries worldwide.
In 2019, more than 75% per cent of Ireland’s bilateral aid targeted gender equality.

Women, Peace and Security and Gender-Based Violence

Our Humanitarian Programme Plan provided €14.9 million in funding to support Irish NGOS to respond to humanitarian crises with an estimated 10% of programming prioritising protection, gender mainstreaming, and the prevention of GBV in 2019
GBV in Emergencies: Through a new three-year partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Ireland has committed to provide €4.5 million to deliver life-saving services for women and girl survivors of GBV in five of the most protracted, underfunded humanitarian settings in the world.
In June 2019, the Government launched Ireland’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, 2019 to 2024.

Women’s Economic Empowerment:

In Ethiopia, Ireland’s Africa Agri Food Development (AADP) helped women coffee farmers receive improved prices for their produce.
In Kenya, Ireland supported the Kenya Private Sector Association, an umbrella organisation representing some 500,000 SMEs in Kenya, to support a Women in Business mentorship and training programme.
In Malawi, Ireland’s support for climate smart agriculture has included a focus on women’s economic empowerment that has benefited over 40,000 women farmers.

Education for Girls:

Ireland will provide at least €250 million to global education by 2024.
In 2019, Ireland continued to support the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) with funding of €7.5 million. GPE works with close to 70 developing countries to reach the most marginalised and vulnerable children, including girls, children with disabilities and those in emergency settings. With more than 120 million girls out of school, GPE focuses on ensuring girls’ access to quality education continues to remain essential.

Education in Emergencies: In 2019 Ireland pledged €6 million over three years to Education Cannot Wait – a fund hosted by UNICEF, dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises. Ireland’s funding supports efforts to provide access to education for 8.9 million children living in crisis by 2021, including over 4.4 million girls.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): In Tanzania, Irish funding supported community health volunteers in reaching 15,226 pregnant women, 60,131 caregivers of young children and 98,467 adolescents, and reduced high-risk unattended home deliveries in the region by 86%.

Multilateral Engagement:

Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations completed a two-year term as Chair of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) in 2019.
In 2019 Ireland provided €3.25 million in core and bilateral funding to UN Women as a key partner in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.
In 2019 Ireland supported and attended the Nairobi Summit marking the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and called for women’s sexual and reproductive health to take centre stage in national and global development efforts.
In 2019, the Government launched a national report on the implementation of the Beijing Platform and Declaration for Action.

Gender & Climate Action: In 2019, Ireland provided at least €80 million in climate finance exceeding the commitment made in the Programme for Government to €175 million in climate finance over the period 2016-2020.