Emer Higgins
Question:447. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way the Irish embassy in Ethiopia is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13362/21]
View answerWednesday, 10 March 2021
Questions (447)
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The Government’s policy for international development, ‘A Better World’, launched in February 2019, commits to scaling Ireland’s investment across four policy priorities: gender equality; reducing humanitarian need; climate action and strengthening governance.
This policy was complemented, in November 2019, by the Government’s Strategy for Africa to 2025, which builds on Ireland’s long history of engagement in the continent and commits to working with African countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on reaching those furthest behind first. In May 2020, an OECD review recognised the excellence of Irish Aid, Ireland’s international development programme, which helps Ireland play a leading role advocating for poverty reduction, channelling our assistance to where it is needed most.
Ireland has a longstanding partnership with Ethiopia. The Embassy’s development programme, which has an annual indicative budget of €32 million, focuses on: regional and national peace and security; democratic governance and accountability; humanitarian response and social protection; health and gender equality; and economic development. Addis Ababa is an important hub for African regional and continental organisations, and Ireland’s Embassy there is accredited to the African Union and the regional bloc IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), through which we engage on regional peace and security issues.
The current Irish Aid programme in Ethiopia has a strong humanitarian focus, and responding to the devastating humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region is a major focus. Social protection is also a core element of the programme, through support to the flagship Productive Safety Net Programme, which provides food and cash transfers to food insecure households and highly vulnerable populations across the country. Ireland’s programme also focuses on support for the national health system, including the delivery of maternal health programmes. Given the gendered nature of poverty, the programme strongly prioritises the needs of women and girls.
Ireland’s programme in Ethiopia received a very positive assessment from the OECD 2020 DAC peer review, including for its principled political engagement on humanitarian issues, and for its strong advocacy for gender equality. The review also recognised that Ireland plays an important leadership role in terms of donor coordination in Ethiopia. We will continue to keep the development programme under close review, particularly in light of ongoing conflict in Tigray.