Civil society
Ireland has a strong and vibrant civil society dedicated to global development and humanitarian response.
Irish civil society organisations (CSOs) have a proud record of delivering strong results.
The Irish Government, through Irish Aid, partners with these CSOs to support activities linked with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Irish Aid works in partnership with CSOs in Ireland and abroad on three core areas:
- Long-term development
- Humanitarian assistance
- Global Citizenship Education
Civil society in focus
We work with a wide range of civil society organisations. This includes community organisations, social movements and academia. Our primary focus is on supporting the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
We have two core funding streams for our civil society partners:
Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (ICSP)
This is a five-year funding mechanism which supports Irish civil society partners of significant capacity to deliver long-term development and humanitarian programmes overseas as well as Global Citizenship Education in Ireland.
Civil Society Fund
This supports development projects overseas of up to five years in duration. We currently fund 30 partners through this fund.
In addition to these funding streams, we have a number of strategic partners.
Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) for A Better World is an innovative funding scheme for Irish NGOs which runs from 2023 to 2027.
Under this scheme, there are four distinct, but complementary, funding streams for long-term development, chronic humanitarian crises, acute humanitarian crises and global citizenship education.
Ten Irish NGO partners are funded through ICSP with an approximate total funding of €100 million in 2023, including €9.9 million for climate finance. The climate finance allocation is integrated across the streams of Long-Term Development and Chronic Humanitarian Crises.
The €100 million allocated in 2023 is divided as follows:
Stream 1: Long-Term Development | €66,800,000 |
Stream 2: Chronic Humanitarian Crises | €16,800,000 |
Stream 3: Acute Humanitarian Crises | €4,000,000 |
Stream 4: Global Citizenship Education | €2,500,000 |
Climate Finance | €9,900,000 |
ICSP partners must demonstrate how they are delivering on the following:
- Reaching the furthest behind first, including people who are at risk of becoming more marginalised by placing them at the centre of programmes, partnerships and approaches.
- Transformative change, through a strong programmatic approach and effective influencing, including through advocacy, leadership and coordination.
- A deeper focus on reducing humanitarian need, through an approach that helps to prevent crises from arising and recurring and, where appropriate, supports linkages across humanitarian, development and peace processes.
- Strengthening locally-led action, through supporting and empowering local actors and promoting civil society space.
- Evidence-based programming, including through strong results-based management that uses quality data and informs organisational learning.
- Accountability, value for money and risk management for sustainable development.
ICSP Partner | 2023 Funding |
---|---|
Concern Worldwide | €30,900,000 |
Trócaire | €28,800,000 |
GOAL | €13,800,000 |
Christian Aid Ireland | €5,450,000 |
Self Help Africa | €4,900,000 |
Oxfam Republic of Ireland | €4,700,000 |
World Vision International | €4,600,000 |
Plan International Ireland | €3,700,000 |
Sightsavers Ireland | €2,200,000 |
ActionAid Ireland | €950,000 |
For more information, view the ICSP Strategic Framework.
Civil society project funding
The Civil Society Fund (CSF) supports NGOs to implement development projects in countries eligible to receive official development assistance. These projects must have the potential to contribute to the priorities and commitments in A Better World, Ireland’s Policy for International Development.
Applications and grants
The 2025 Civil Society Fund Call for Applications is now open.
Applications are accepted on an annual basis from Irish international development NGOs – mainly small and medium sized organisations - and invited international NGOs. Projects can be up to five years in duration and grants range from €50,000 to a maximum of €800,000 per year.
The CSF is supporting organisations to deliver development projects in a wide range of areas including livelihoods, health, education, gender equality, disability inclusion and human rights which are helping to make a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
CSF Partner | Allocation Year |
Duration in Years |
---|---|---|
A Partnership With Africa |
2024 | 3 |
Aidlink | 2024 | 5 |
Brighter Communities Worldwide |
2024 | 3 |
Children in Crossfire |
2024 | 5 |
Christian Blind Mission Ireland |
2024 | 2 |
ECPAT International | 2022 | 3 |
Fields Of Life Northern Ireland |
2022 | 3 |
Global Witness Trust | 2023 | 2 |
Health Poverty Action |
2022 | 2 |
HelpAge International |
2024 | 3 |
ILGA World | 2022 | 3 |
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) |
2024 | 3 |
International Service For Human Rights |
2023 | 3 |
Irish League of Credit Unions International Development Foundation |
2024 | 5 |
Irish Red Cross | 2023 | 2 |
Martin Ennals Foundation |
2022 | 3 |
Minority Rights Group International |
2024 | 3 |
Nepal Leprosy Trust | 2024 | 3 |
Nurture Africa | 2022 | 3 |
Orbis Ireland | 2022 | 3 |
Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
2024 | 3 |
Saferworld | 2021 | 3 |
Serve In Solidarity Ireland |
2024 | 3 |
Social and Health Education Project |
2022 | 3 |
The Leprosy Mission Northern Ireland |
2022 | 3 |
Tearfund Ireland | 2022 | 3 |
The Carter Center | 2023 | 3 |
University College Cork |
2024 | 3 |
UPR Info | 2023 | 3 |
Vita | 2024 | 5 |
Strategic partners
In addition to civil society partners funded through the ICSP and CSF, we also support the work of some other strategic partners. These organisations are strategically placed within their sector to assist on the delivery of our civil society policy objectives.
Front Line Defenders
Front Line Defenders is an international human rights organisation founded in Dublin in 2001, with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk.
Our partnership with Front Line Defenders amounts to €700,000 per year over a five-year period (2023-2027).
Misean Cara
Irish Aid provides funding to missionary organisations involved in development work overseas via Misean Cara.
We currently provide €15.5 million per year to Misean Cara.
Dóchas
Dóchas is a representative association for Irish non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in overseas development.
In 2023, Irish Aid provided €365,000 in core funding to Dóchas.
Comhlámh
Comhlámh is a membership organisation that promotes best practice in international volunteering.
Our partnership with Comhlámh will see Irish Aid provide €400,000 per year over a three-year period (2023-2025) for a programme which will promote ethical and skills-based international volunteering and active global citizenship.