Africa as a top priority
Africa has been the main geographic focus of Irish Aid.
With poverty as the priority theme, Ireland's programmes are
focussed on eight priority countries: Ethiopia,
Lesotho, Liberia,
Mozambique,
Tanzania,
Uganda,
Zambia and East
Timor. Malawi
was recently designated as Irish Aid's 9th programme country.
Ireland does fund "non-core"
projects in non-priority countries as well. |
UNDP is the main recipient of Ireland's contributions to UN development
agencies. The donor's contribution to UNDP's regular or core resources
(which fund UNDP's programmes around the world) has steadily increased
over the past six years. In 2003, it increased by 43% and reached
€12.7 mn, its highest level ever.
In 2004, Ireland
also provided $10 million in non-core resources (which finance specific
activities around the world).
As a result, Ireland is now ahead of other OECD-DAC donors with larger
economies. The country is one of a small group of donors to have made
a multi-year commitment covering the full period 2004-2007.
Thematic priorities
Ireland's overarching aim is to reduce poverty
in its programme countries, with a focus on:
Gender, the environment,
governance and HIV/AIDS
are known as cross-cutting areas, which means that they are taken
into account at every stage of Ireland's interventions, whether
it is planning, implementation or evaluation. For more information
on Ireland's priority themes, click here.
UN Reform and aid effectiveness
Ireland has been encouraging the UN system to enhance its coherence.
In recent years, it has rationalized its engagement with the United
Nations' funds and programmes, monitoring and assessing their
work more closely and ensuring, via Irish Aid's direct contact
with the evaluation and audit units of the UN funds and programmes,
that the following broad criteria are applied when collaborating
with UN agencies:
-Coherence with Ireland's overall development objectives
-Effective and efficient management
-Commitment to reform
-Working in partnership with developing country governments
Ireland does carry out evaluations and assessments of UNDP performance
on the basis of which core-funding decisions are made. These evaluations/assessments
take place every two years. Prior to the assessments, Ireland's
embassies in priority countries are contacted to share their views
on UNDP performance in the field.
Ireland has also increased its support for new UN activities,
such as the UN Peacebuilding Fund, which was established following
the 2005 World Summit.
Ireland and UNDP