Conor Lenihan TD, Minister of State for Irish Aid and Human Rights today announced a new 5 year multi-annual agreement with aid agency Christian Aid. He was joined at the announcement in St Patrick's Cathedral by the Head of Christian Aid Ireland, Margaret Boden and the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev Dr Robert McCarthy.
Irish Aid funding to Christian Aid will increase from €7 million for the period 2003 to 2006 to €17 million over the 5 year period from 2007 to 2011. This agreement marks a new and important stage in the relationship between the two organisations. The scale of the agreement is indicative of the importance that Irish Aid attaches to the work of NGOs such as Christian Aid. Making the announcement, Minister Lenihan said:
"Irish Aid has very effective partnerships with Irish NGOs, such as Christian Aid. Our work with these organisations greatly enhances the impact of our efforts to reduce poverty amongst the world's poorest people.
Multi-annual support enables these organisations to plan and implement longer-term development programmes, to operate with more flexibility and to ensure greater sustainability."
Margaret Boden, Head of Christian Aid Ireland, added:
"The real value of this contract with Irish Aid lies in its commitment to five years. Support for development work doesn't happen within a shorter time span. Because of this new programme, we would hope to see big improvements for our partners working in conflict situations over the next five years."
Note to Editors:
Irish Aid's partnership with Christian Aid goes back to late 70s. The first block funding to Christian Aid was awarded in 1996. Irish Aid supports the work of Christian Aid Ireland in Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Columbia and Sierra Leone. Christian Aid's partners in these countries strive to improve the livelihoods of target communities, promote accountability within government and support individuals, families and communities impacted by HIV/AIDs.
The White Paper on Irish Aid commits Irish Aid to increasing funding for NGOs as the programme expands. Irish Aid funding to NGOs and other civil society groups will increase from €98 million in 2006 to well over €120 million in 2007.