Ireland’s impact around the world
Ireland invested €976 m in supporting communities around the world in 2021.
In 2021, Ireland invested more than €976 million in Official Development Assistance.
This was the highest ever figure for Ireland’s development assistance programme – an unprecedented investment in creating a better world for everyone.
Ireland's priorities are to:
- Reduce humanitarian need
- Support climate action
- Promote gender equality
- Strengthen governance.
We provide aid to support the most vulnerable communities and strive to create lasting improvements in the lives of those living in poverty.
Working in partnership
To these ends, we form partnerships with governments, international organisations, civil society groups, private sector organisations and international non-governmental organisations. We believe that global problems can be tackled most effectively through collective action.
The top five countries in receipt of Ireland's bilateral support in 2021 were:
- Ethiopia
- Mozambique
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Malawi.
Climate Action
The theme for the 2021 Irish Aid Annual Report (the most recent) was Climate Action, one of Ireland’s key Overseas Development Assistance priorities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs Climate Unit has refined our climate priorities into three main areas of work:
- adaptation and building resilience to climate change
- sustainable oceans and the blue economy
- climate and security.