Aid Agencies
Bilateral Agencies
Ireland's Contribution
European Union's Contribution
United Kingdom
Multilateral Agencies
UN
OECD
WTO
OSCE
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Agricultural Research
The Red Cross
Non-Governmental Organizations
Missionaries
Private Donations

Aid Agencies

An aid agency is an organisation dedicated to distributing aid. Many professional aid organisations exist, both within government (e.g. Irish Aid, DFID, ECHO), between governments as multilateral donors (e.g. UNDP) and as private voluntary organizations (or non-governmental organisations, e.g. Trocaire, ActionAid, Oxfam). The International Committee of the Red Cross is unique in being mandated by international treaty to uphold the Geneva Conventions.

Aid can be subdivided into two categories: humanitarian aid (emergency relief efforts, eg in response to natural disasters), and development aid (or foreign aid), aimed at helping countries to achieve long-term sustainable economic growth, with the aim of achieving poverty reduction. Some aid agencies carry out both kinds of aid, whilst others specialise (eg Red Cross, humanitarian aid; War on Want, development aid).


Bilateral Agencies
For the purposes of this website only a few links to bilateral agencies are provided however there are many more bilateral donors in the world.


Ireland's Contribution 
Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Ireland has had an official development assistance programme since 1974. It has grown steadily over the years from modest beginnings to its current size (total ODA in 2006 will be over €730 million).


European Union
European Union The Treaty on European Union provides in Articles 177 to 181 for Community policy in the sphere of development cooperation, which shall be complementary to the policies pursued by the Member States.

• Community policy is carried out by the Commission through the auspices of the Directorate General for Development and the EuropeAid Cooperation Office whose purpose is to implement the external aid instruments which are funded by the Community budget and the European. Development Fund under the Cotonou Agreement.
• The Council of the European Union deals with development cooperation issues at meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and in its subsidiary Working Parties.
• The Development Committee of the European Parliament has a role in monitoring Community development policy and as a participant in legislative co-decision procedures.
• The principal task of the European Investment Bank [EIB] is to contribute to the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the Member States. Outside the EU, the EIB implements the financial components of agreements concluded under Community development assistance and cooperation policies.

United Kingdom
DFID The Department for International Development is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. DFID is represented in Cabinet by the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn MP), and in the House of Commons by a Parliamentary under Secretary of State (Gareth R Thomas MP).

EU Member States

The United Nations family of organizations is made up of the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations programmes and funds -- such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) -- and the specialized agencies. The programmes, funds and agencies have their own governing bodies and budgets, and set their own standards and guidelines. Together, they provide technical assistance and other forms of practical help in virtually all areas of economic and social endeavour.

1. United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realisation, by all people, of all rights established in the UN Charter and the international human rights instruments.
2. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was set up in 1966 and is the largest UN agency through which Governments channel voluntary contributions for economic and social development projects. It is the UN’s principal provider of advice, advocacy and grant support. With a presence in 131 countries, UNDP has a close working relationship with many developing country governments.
3. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
4. United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950 by UN General Assembly resolution 428. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
5. World Health Organisation (WHO) is the United Nations specialized agency for health, was established on 7 April 1948. WHO’s objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO’s Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO’s Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO programme and the budget for the following biennium and to decide major policy questions.
6. United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, was established to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees. In the absence of a solution to the Palestine refugee problem, the General Assembly has repeatedly renewed UNRWA’s mandate, most recently extending it until 30 June 2005. UNRWA’s Commissioner General is the only head of a United Nations body to report directly to the General Assembly. Today, UNRWA provides education, health, relief and social services to eligible refugees among the 3.9 million registered Palestine refugees.
7. United Nations Population Fund The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries. The Fund helps countries improve reproductive health and family planning services on the basis of individual choice, and to formulate population policies that support sustainable development and poverty eradication.
8. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and has the mandate to coordinate UN assistance in humanitarian crises that go beyond the capacity and mandate of any single humanitarian agency. OCHA plays a key role in preparing the Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals Process (CAPs) which provides a common and coordinated humanitarian appeals process for the UN Agencies.
9. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is one of the largest specialised agencies of the UN and the main agency for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development. FAO currently has over 180 member countries and one member Organisation, the European Community. It works towards the alleviation of hunger and poverty through promoting agricultural development, food security and raising nutritional standards.
10. The World Food Programme is the food aid organisation of the United Nations. Unlike most UN Organisations it operates on the basis of voluntary donations pledged at irregular intervals.
11. The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and is the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles which brought the League of Nations into being and it became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946.
12. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialised UN agency which aims to provide developing countries with concessional loans for financing projects in the field of food production.

World Bank is the name that has come to be used for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Together these organisations provide low interest loans, interest free credit, and grants to developing countries. The World Bank, therefore, is not a “bank” in the usual sense, but is one of the United Nations’ specialised agencies, with 184 member countries. Irish Aid maintains a number of Trust Funds at the World Bank.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a member of the World Bank Group and is the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world. It promotes sustainable private sector development primarily by financing private sector projects in developing countries, by helping private companies in developing countries to mobilise finance in international financial markets and by providing advice and technical assistance to businesses and governments.

International Monetary Fund is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. The IMF describes itself as an organization of 184 member countries established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was established in 1991. The purpose of the Bank is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe. The EBRD, through investment initiatives, helps build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from Central Europe to Central Asia.


OECD
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a group of 30 like minded countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. Ireland is a member of the OECD. Member states discuss and develop policies and instruments on a wide range of economic and social issues. Member states meet and exchange information in specialised committees. The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is the principal body through which the OECD deals with issues relating to co-operation with developing countries.

WTO
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is a global international organisation dealing with trade between nations. Its key functions are to administer the WTO trade agreements, to provide a forum for trade negotiations, to handle trade disputes, to monitor national trade policies, to provide technical assistance and training for developing countries and to cooperate with other international organisations. The World Trade Organisation and its trade capacity building subsidiary organs (Trade-related technical assistance and specialized training courses are provided to developing countries. The WTO has organized or been closely involved in a number of events on trade and development issues. The WTO Secretariat also carries out research and analysis of trade and development issues. The WTO cooperates with a number of other international organizations in the field of trade and development.) play a major role in the global trading system and, in particular, in the implementation of the Doha Development Agenda which launched a new WTO Trade Round in November 2001. The amount of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building (TRTA/CB) — to help developing and least-developed countries to participate more efficiently in international trade — has increased by 50% since the Doha Ministerial Declaration, in November 2001. As donors become increasingly active in this area, aid for trade capacity has grown to some 4.4% of total aid commitments of the world’s major contributors, according to a joint report by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).


OSCE
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the largest regional security organization in the world with 55 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. The OSCE has a comprehensive approach in dealing with range of security-related issues including arms control, preventive diplomacy, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, democratization, election monitoring and economic and environmental security. The OSCE is a partner in ‘The Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) with UNEP and UNDP. The initiative aims at providing a framework for cooperation on environmental issues across borders and promoting peace and stability through environment al cooperation and sustainable development.


The Red Cross
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is made up of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (Federation); and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (National Societies). The ICRC, the Federation and the individual National Societies are independent bodies. Each has its own status and exercises no authority over the others. Red Cross and Red Crescent activities have one central purpose: to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without discrimination, and to protect human dignity. Irish Aid has partnership agreements with both the ICRC and the IFRC, supporting protection programmes in Africa and capacity building for national societies.

Non-Governmental Organizations
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization that is not part of a government and was not founded by the state. NGOs are therefore typically independent of governments. Although the definition might technically include for-profit corporations, the term is generally restricted to social, cultural, legal, and environmental advocacy groups having goals that are primarily noncommercial. NGOs are usually non-profit organizations that gain at least a portion of their funding from private sources. A 1995 UN report on global governance estimated that there are nearly 29,000 international NGOs. The following list of NGOs are all Irish based and is by no means exhaustive.

Action Aid Ireland is dedicated entirely to development aid. Their mission is to alleviate poverty and deprivation in developing countries by starting and supporting programmes and projects which will enable local communities to break out of the cycle of poverty. They work entirely through local people.

Afri exists to promote the vision of, and strive to bring into being, a more just, more equal and more peaceful world through research, debate, awareness raising and action in partnership with marginalised people affected by, or engaged with, issues of equity and security, especially in the global ‘South’.

Aid Link is a Dublin based non- denominational Third World Development Organisation providing over €1,500,000 per annum to approximately 70 projects throughout the developing world.

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people which campaigns for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

Bóthar establishes families in micro-farming units by giving them the living gift of a farm animal. However, this gift is only given as the last stage of a long and important process. Bóthar began as an enterprise with the aim of sending as many dairy cows to Africa as possible in the year 1991, in conjunction with the civic celebrations to mark the tercentenary of the signing of the Treaty of Limerick, an important milestone in Irish history.

Children in Crossfire work in partnership reponding to the challenge of poverty at a local level , working in solidarity with communities.

Childfund Ireland facilitates the sponsorship of children throughout 27 countries and manages development and emergency programmes worldwide. All programmes are focused on children and their communities.

Christian Aid  is an agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland. They work wherever the need is greatest – irrespective of religion or race. They support local organizations and also give help on the ground through 16 overseas offices.

Church Missionary Society Ireland (CMSI) is a Christian Mission and Development Agency, which has been working for over 190 years in partnership with the Church in Ireland and the Church overseas to share the Gospel, in meaningful ways, throughout the world.

Concern Worldwide is a development agency whose mission statement is to enable absolutely poor people to achieve major improvements in their lifestyles which are sustainable without ongoing support from Concern.

Comhlámh  is the Irish Association of Development Workers.  As a membership organisation, they educate and campaign on global justice issues, with a focus on global trade, global migration and development aid and cooperation. Comhlámh was established in 1975 by APSO (the Irish Government) to support returned development workers (RDW’s), who in turn sought to promote effective global development. Since then it has grown into a national membership organisation of RDW’s and others interested in global development issues.

Dóchas brings together Irish Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in development and relief overseas and/or in the provision of development education. Dóchas aims to provide a forum for consultation and co-operation between its Members as well as to help them speak with a single voice on development issues.

GOAL is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to the alleviation of the suffering of the poorest of the poor.

Gorta was the first Third World development organisation to be set up in Ireland. It was established by the Department of Agriculture in 1965 as the permanent body to evolve from the Irish Freedom from Hunger Campaign - part of an international campaign initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

The Irish League of Credit Union (ILCU) Foundation supports credit unions, their representative bodies and other cooperative type organisations in developing countries as a means for socio-economic development through the provision of financial and technical assistance.

Irish Foundation for Co-operative Development (ICOS) As the co-ordinating organisation for co-operatives in Ireland, ICOS provides a range of services to its member co-operatives and represents them on national and international organisations.

Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) is a Dublin-based NGO which educates and campaigns for Latin American and global social justice. In addition to campaigning on issues such as water privatisation in Latin America, LASC also provides runs events, and provides some serices to those interested in travelling to or hoping to volunteer in Latin America.

Methodist World Development and Relief Committee (MWDRC) The World Development and Relief Committee of the Methodist Church in Ireland contributes funds to areas of need in many parts of the world. This is through relief work in times of emergency and longer term development projects. WDRC is also committed to advocacy (campaigning and lobbying political institutions on behalf of the poor) and education of the Methodist people in Ireland so that they understand the relevant issues and respond in the most appropriate way.

Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International a group of twelve non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world. The Oxfams work together to achieve greater impact by their collective efforts. Oxfam is a global movement of PEOPLE, working to overcome poverty, suffering and injustice. People such as the volunteer in the local Oxfam shop; the community leader in Kenya helping local farmers find ways to grow more crops; the water engineer working in an emergency drought; the campaigner lobbying their local political representative on trade rules. All of these individuals make up the organisation that is Oxfam. Oxfam believes that, in a world rich in resources, poverty is neither natural nor inevitable. All human beings have the right to a home, enough to eat, clean water, a way to make a living, education, healthcare, freedom from violence, a voice, and an identity. Oxfam is many different things. It’s the organisation which helps poor people to build a better future for themselves. It’s the relief agency which brings help when disaster strikes. Oxfam is the campaigner for a fairer world. And it’s the local charity shop. Oxfam helps people to help themselves through our work in long-term development, emergencies, and campaigning.

Plan International  is a humanitarian, child-focused organisation working with families and their communities to meet the needs of children around the world.

Refugee Trust International is a non-denominational organisation. It was founded in 1989 and is devoted to the relief of hardship and distress throughout the world amongst refugees and displaced families without racial, religious or political discrimination.

Self Help Development International is an Irish development agency engaged in promoting and implementing integrated sustainable development programmes in rural Africa.

Skillshare International works to reduce poverty, injustice and inequality and to further economic and social development in partnership with people and communities throughout the world. We do this by sharing and developing skills and ideas, facilitating organisational and social change and building awareness of development issues.

SUAS Educational Development Suas is a youth and education focused organisation, which facilitates young people to address educational disadvantage at home and overseas. Suas is secular and is a registered charity.

The Hope Foundation works primarily with street children in Calcutta.

Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. It was set up by the Irish Catholic Bishops in 1973 to express the concern of the Irish Church for the suffering of the world’s poorest and most oppressed people. It has a dual mandate: to support long-term development projects overseas and to provide relief during emergencies; and at home to inform the Irish public about the root causes of poverty and injustice and mobilise the public to bring about global change.

Voluntary Missionary Movement (VMM) is a lay Christian non-government organisation (NGO), founded in 1969, whose members share their lives, faith, resources and skills to promote equality, respect and dignity for all.

Voluntary Service Overseas Ireland (VSO) sends experienced professionals to work in 34 of the poorest countries in the world.

War on Want NI is a local, independent development agency which works on partnership with the poorest communities in the world in their struggle against poverty and campaigns to ensure that their voice is kept firmly in the national and international agenda.

Wingspread International works with poor people in Africa and other parts of the world, helping them to lead a better, healthier life. We work mainly in Chad where we help local people to grow more food and find clean water, to give them a better, healthier life.

World Vision Ireland works with children and families in need around the world, irrespective of religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background.

Missionaries
Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS) The Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS) was established in 2004 and accorded charitable status. Membership is open to all missionary organisations registered in Ireland and holding charitable status and it currently has a membership of 82 organisations, supporting over 600 missionaries engaged in frontline work throughout the developing world. The initial emphasis is on the sourcing and allocation of funds but the IMRS also aims to raise awareness of the range and value of development work done by missionary organisations, including education, health care, humanitarian relief and conflict resolution, while also helping them to respond to the constantly emerging new challenges.  The mission of the IMRS is to work for a radically different world order through: poverty eradication; the sustainable use of resources and the promotion of just and peaceful relationships among peoples, by supporting the development work of Irish missionary organisations and their partners.

Agricultural Research
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is an informal association of research centres, located throughout the world, which aims to contribute, through research, to sustainable agriculture for food security in developing countries.

Private Donations
Philanthropy is the voluntary act of donating money or goods or providing some other support to a charitable cause, usually over an extended period of time. In a more fundamental sense, philanthropy may encompass any activity which is intended to enhance the common good or improve human well being. An example of a well known philanthropist organization is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with a net worth valued at approximately US$26.9 billion in 2006 is arguably the world’s second wealthiest charitable foundation. The Foundation currently provides 90% of the world budget for the attempted eradication of poliomyelitis (polio). They have donated more than US$100 million to help children suffering from AIDS. On January 26, 2005, it was announced that the Foundation had made a further contribution of US$750 million to the international Vaccine Fund to help fight diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, poliomyelitis and yellow fever. Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Bono, were named by TIME as Persons of the Year 2005 for their charitable work.

Philanthropy Ireland represents grant-makers in Ireland