Our United Nations partners
Ireland’s relationship with the United Nations (UN) is based on our commitment to multilateralism. We believe collective action and a rules-based international order is the best way to build a better world for all.
Working with the UN is central to supporting peace, human rights and development.
Ireland’s response
Our support for UN agencies allows us to draw on their expertise and influence to tackle issues such as poverty and climate change.
It allows us to respond quickly to crises, including in countries where we don't have a presence. This helps us to address emergency and development needs in more than 130 countries, focusing on reaching the furthest behind first.
The UN plays a crucial role in implementing and monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs inform and guide our development programme.
Our UN development partners
We have a strong relationship with all our UN partners, both at headquarters and in the partner countries where we work. We believe in working together to deliver real benefits for vulnerable people.
We are represented on the governing bodies of many UNs agencies, working with them to develop their strategies and priorities. We also help to ensure that financial, evaluation and auditing systems are as effective as possible.
Our UN partners include a wide range of agencies.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP partners with governments and civil society to support the achievement of the SDGs. Its key focus is on the eradication of poverty and ensuring nobody is left behind.
Ireland supports UNDP’s efforts to deliver structural transformation. This includes green, inclusive and digital transitions, as well as building resilience.
UNDP implements six ‘signature solutions’:
- Poverty and inequality
- Governance
- Resilience
- Environment
- Energy
- Gender equality
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and development help to children and their families. Focusing on child development, education and gender equality UNICEF’s work strongly reflects Ireland’s priorities.
United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
UNHCR leads and co-ordinates international action to protect refugees worldwide. It also works to protect and assist internally displaced people, returnees, host communities and stateless people.
UNHCR is one of Ireland’s largest humanitarian partners. It works in often complex and dangerous environments. Each year UNHCR, working with local partners, helps millions of people restart their lives.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
UNRWA provides basic services to 5.4 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. The agency provides education, healthcare and relief services to Palestine refugees.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Their mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Ireland supports UNFPA’s work to deliver on the “three zeroes”:
- Zero unmet need for family planning
- Zero preventable maternal deaths
- Zero gender-based violence and harmful practices
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Human rights are central to the achievement of sustainable development in all its dimensions. OHCHR leads global human rights efforts. It speaks out in the face of human rights violations worldwide.
It also provides support to countries in areas such as the administration of justice, legislative reform, human rights treaty ratification, and human rights education.
UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established to accelerate progress on meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide.
UN Women supports countries as they set global standards for achieving gender equality. It works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to benefit women and girls.
UNAIDS
UNAIDS leads the global effort to end AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. This is a target of the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNAIDS places people living with HIV and people affected by the virus at the centre of the AIDS response. It speaks out against the legal and policy barriers to the AIDS response.
UN development system reform
The UN Development System is made up of all UN organisations working on development. It is undergoing reform to improve its ability to provide coordinated, efficient and better-quality support.
Ireland is a longstanding donor to the UN development system. We are a strong supporter of the reforms.