Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
33. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding that has been provided to an organisation (details supplied) by Irish Aid in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20739/14]
View answer35. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any review has been undertaken into the partner organisations that an organisation (details supplied) works with and supports in Irish Aid partner countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20741/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 35 together.
Tearfund Ireland is a faith-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), which was established in Ireland in 2008 and works to provide relief and long-term development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia. Its aim is to transform the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalised by working with local civil society organisations, including faith-based organisations and churches.
Irish Aid has provided funding to Tearfund Ireland to support projects in development education, long-term development and humanitarian assistance. In 2009, the organisation received funding for a small development education project in Ireland. It received no funding in 2010. In 2011, a three-year project addressing HIV/Aids in Malawi was approved for funding. Funding to this project was disbursed in two tranches, in 2011 and 2013. In 2012, Irish Aid provided funding to the organisation to respond to the food security and nutritional needs of communities in Myanmar. Details of the funding amounts provided to Tearfund Ireland in the years 2009-2013 are set out below.
|
Year |
Amount € |
Grant Type |
|
2009 |
€4,000 |
Development Education |
|
2010 |
€0 |
|
|
2011 |
€194,600 |
Civil Society Fund – HIV/Aids project Malawi |
|
2012 |
€200,000 |
Emergency Preparedness and Post Recovery Fund – for Myanmar. |
|
2013 |
€393,400 |
Civil Society Fund – HIV/Aids project Malawi |
Under the 2014 Irish Aid Civil Society Fund, Tearfund Ireland has been approved in principle for a two-year project in Ethiopia with locally-based community groups, to address chronic food insecurity and poverty. Prior to the establishment of Tearfund Ireland, Irish Aid provided development funding to Tearfund UK. In the years 2008-2011, Tearfund UK received a total of €1.23 million for development programmes in Ethiopia and Malawi.
Irish Aid’s civil society policy aims to support civil society organisations to build a national and global constituency for development, human rights and social justice. Partnership with civil society organisations is built on a shared commitment to common values, including human rights and gender equality. Funding applications from organisations are assessed based on a range of criteria, including the commitment to human rights principles. All NGOs applying for funding must clearly set out their approach to the selection of partners and the key principles governing partnerships with other organisations. Activities such as evangelisation and proselytisation are specifically excluded from eligibility for funding from Irish Aid.
In order to ensure accountability, all NGOs funded by Irish Aid must have a formal decision-making structure in place which can take legal responsibility for the administration and use of public funds. As part of the Irish Aid funding assessment process, the governance, management and financial systems of the organisation are appraised. Irish Aid also requires NGOs to submit an annual narrative and financial report for review. This report must clearly outline progress against the agreed results for the project funded. An independent appraisal of the report is undertaken and any issues arising must be resolved before the project can proceed further.
Irish Aid also undertakes field monitoring visits as part of its monitoring strategy. A monitoring visit to a Tearfund UK project in Malawi was undertaken in 2010, which included meetings with the country office team, members of the Malawi Churches Partnership Programme, with which Tearfund had partnered, and with the direct beneficiaries of the project. The project was seen to be progressing well in line with the outcomes envisaged.
