Irish Aid Development Education Grants now open for applications

Funding aims to increase awareness and understanding of global development issues among the Irish public
Grants from €10,000 to €180,000 available to organisations focused on international development issues

Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy T.D., todaylaunched the Irish Aid Development Education grant application process for 2021.

Irish Aid Development Education grants are available to organisations in Ireland to enable exploration of international development issues and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to prompt greater engagement with how Ireland can best play its part in making the world a better place.

The Irish Aid Development Education grant scheme is a competitive process that provides grants of between €10,000 and €180,000 for educational projects in Ireland of between 1 to 2 years in duration.

Minster Brophy is urging all Irish organisations with a focus on international development issues to apply for funding to assist them with their work. He said:

“Irish Aid’s approach to development education has been recognised internationally. Teaching our citizens about the challenges facing other countries starts at primary school level in Ireland. That process of learning continues with great support and commitment from our excellent partners, many of whom have benefitted from this funding. Through the provision of development education, people are empowered to analyse and challenge the root causes and consequences of global hunger, poverty, inequality, injustice and climate change.

“In 2020, 22 organisations across Ireland were successful in securing funding under the scheme, including schools networks, Third level institutes, further education colleges, NGOs, youth organisations, adult and community groups.

“Ireland continues to show leadership in global policy debates and national development education. We want to build on our progress in making our policies coherent with sustainable development abroad and further strengthening our partnerships with civil society will enable us to do that. That is why I encourage any organisation focused on international development issues to apply for this funding – so we can work together.”

This call for applications is for the 2021 grant round. The deadline for submission of applications is 1 December 2020 and the successful recipients will be notified in Spring 2021.

For more information on how to apply for funding click here

ENDS

Press Office

9 October 2020

Notes for Editors

The Department’s Development Education grant scheme is a competitive process under which grants of between €10,000 and €180,000 are provided for educational projects in Ireland of between 1 and 2 years in duration.
Ireland’s development education programme is well-respected internationally which was highlighted most recently in the OECD Peer Review of Ireland in April 2020, which states: ‘Ireland has a strong approach to development education which focuses on achieving greater knowledge and changed attitudes. Its approach encompasses both formal and non-formal education and relies on strong partnerships among the government, non-governmental organisations, education actors and local communities. Outreach to schools is already very substantial, and Ireland is aiming to reach wider audiences to sustain and deepen the considerable support within the Irish population.’
The OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews provide in-depth examinations of development systems and policies, including lessons learned, in all DAC (Development Assistance Committee) member countries. The full text of the 2020 review of Ireland’s Development Programme can be viewed here