The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence is to review the Irish Aid programme and wants to hear people's views.

In line with its 2017 work programme, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence will shortly commence a review of the Irish Aid programme.

In 2017 Irish Aid accounts for over €485 million of voted expenditure. That accounts for approximately 80% of Ireland’s official development assistance (ODA), with the remainder disbursed by other Government Departments (a total of €651 million).

The Government’s current policy for international development, One World One Future, was published in May 2013. Four years later, and following the agreement of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, it is timely and opportune for the Joint Committee to conduct an overall review of the Irish Aid programme. This review will focus on expenditure and value for money but will also focus on results and impact, including in a number of specific policy areas, including climate change and the development and humanitarian aspects of the migration crisis.

Despite improvements in levels of extreme poverty, there remain huge development challenges in the most impoverished regions of the world. Humanitarian crises are on an unprecedented scale. This review will provide an opportunity to highlight some of those very serious challenges and how the Government is responding.

As Ireland’s economic recovery continues, it is also timely for the Joint Committee to take a closer look at the proportion of GNI being allocated to overseas aid and how Ireland is meeting its international commitments in that regard including the potential for Ireland to reach and fully implement its commitment of 0.7% of ODA/GNI.

What should a submission include?

Written submissions on this subject are invited from all stakeholders. Submissions should be succinct (maximum 2,000 words) and focused and provide practical suggested actions and recommendations for the Government, for consideration by the Committee.

Interested parties may wish to consider the following points, but are not limited to these:

• Is the distribution of Irish Aid resources aligned to need and priority?
• Is the balance between funds directed to bilateral development programmes / multilateral organisations / civil society organisations / humanitarian aid correct in your view?
• What is your view of the geographic focus of Irish Aid expenditure?
• What is your view of Ireland’s response to humanitarian crises?
• What is your view of the policy focus of Irish Aid expenditure? Specific contributions relating to the development and humanitarian aspects of climate change and the migration crisis are welcome.
• Does Irish Aid remain fully untied in your view?
• What is your current assessment of implementation of the SDGs, from an overseas development perspective?
• Are the SDGs shaping international development policy in the same way the MDGs did?
• Do you have specific recommendations on the future direction of the Irish Aid programme?

How to make a submission

Submissions should be sent in Word format only, by email, to foreignaffairs@oireachtas.ie.

For more details on making a submission to an Oireachtas Committee, read our submission guidelines.

For information about the Committee, its membership, terms of reference and contact details, see the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence homepage.

Closing date

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday, 13 October 2017.