Funding Announced For Strategic Partnership With IRC

Funding of €2.2 million has been secured for a new Strategic Partnership between Ireland and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh, have confirmed.

The announcement was made in advance of meetings held between David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, and Ministers Flanagan and McHugh.

Mr Miliband is in Ireland to discuss the relationship between Ireland and the IRC in the context of the current scale of global humanitarian need and the vulnerability of women and girls which the IRC responds to through Irish funding.

Speaking about his meeting with Mr Miliband, Minister Flanagan said: "The International Rescue Committee is an important humanitarian partner for Ireland. It is a leading organisation in the protection of women and girls who are disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises.

"Last year, Ireland provided over €165 million in humanitarian funding through our partners, including the IRC, to crises across the world. Ireland remains committed to working with a range of humanitarian partners, including our NGO partners, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The partnership with the International Recuse Committee is critical in delivering some of Ireland's key policy priorities which include the promotion of human rights and gender equality."

Minister of State McHugh added: "We recognise that agencies like the IRC have the expertise and capacity to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable in times of crises.

"Ireland has been particularly supportive of the work that the International Rescue Committee has taken forward to address Gender Based Violence in Emergencies.

"I am pleased that Ireland is building on its relationship with the IRC through this new Strategic Partnership. Over the next two years, we will provide € 2.2 million for IRC's work with a continued focus on the protection of women and children in emergencies."

(MH/CD)