Who we are.
Irish Aid is the Government’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Irish Aid is a division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and our aid programme is an important part of Ireland’s wider foreign policy.

Irish Aid is funded through the exchequer and is working every day on behalf of the Irish people to help some of the world’s poorest communities.
 
What we do.
The main aim of the Irish Aid programme is to reduce poverty and hunger, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the needs are greatest. Irish Aid works with a range of partners to improve health, education, water and sanitation provision, agriculture and rural development. Our work is focused on improving social and economic development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the international targets agreed by the United Nations (UN) to halve world poverty by 2015.

Where our aid goes.
The Irish Aid programme is focussed on some of the world’s poorest countries. We have long-term development relationships with nine priority countries, seven of which are in sub-Saharan Africa: Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.  In Asia, we have long-term development programmes in Timor-Leste and Vietnam. We also support development in many other countries, through the work of NGOs and missionaries and through our own regional programmes, such as those in Sierra Leone, Liberia and South Africa. Read more about our partner countries>>

Our partners.
We work closely with the governments of developing countries;  non-governmental organsiations, such as Concern, Goal and Trocaire, and international bodies, including the World Bank, the United Nations and the European Commission. All our partners share our ambition to achieve the MDGs.
Read more about our partners>>>

Why is our aid different?
Unlike a lot of countries, our aid is 100% untied which means it is not tied to the purchase of Irish goods and services. This means the recipients get maximum benefit from it. Irish Aid was recently described by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a “strong cutting-edge development agency which is focused on Africa’s poorest” and “a champion in making aid more effective’.

Focus on Hunger
Ireland has played a central role internationally on the global hunger crisis. We have particularly emphasised the need for a more coherent global response to hunger. Eradicating hunger is a cornerstone of the Irish Aid programme and Irish Aid is committed to spending 20% of our entire development budget on tackling hunger by 2012. Already, 80% of aid is targeted at sub-Saharan Africa, where the hunger crisis is most acute.

Visit the Irish Aid Website>>>>