Dóchas

Our CEO Jane-Ann McKenna has been elected onto the Board of CONCORD. It is a busy time with the current uncertain humanitarian climate, and Ireland's presidency of the EU coming up in 2026. We look forward to working as close as ever with CONCORD in the coming years.

The latest issue of Dóchas' Wednesday News is out now! Uncover insights into upcoming events, enriching workshops, and exciting job openings in the Overseas Development Sector.

Always a privilege to be in this building 🇺🇳 Starting now the 18th session of The Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities #COSP18 📺 Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gDAUf_qB Overarching theme: Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development Sub-theme for Roundtable 1: Empowering persons with disabilities and enhancing social development policies through innovative financing. Sub-theme for Roundtable 2: Leaving no one behind: using AI as a tool for supporting inclusivity to strengthen the participation of persons with disabilities. Sub-theme for Roundtable 3: Recognising and addressing the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities and their role in advancing disability inclusion. Sightsavers Ireland Sightsavers

James Elder, UNICEF’s Global Spokesperson, joined RTÉ’s Morning Ireland live from Gaza. His voice delivered a message no one should ignore: “There is no safe place for children in Gaza.” James spoke of children forced to flee again under fire, of families drying out photo albums found in rubble, of a 13-year-old boy with shrapnel wounds and no pain relief who was injured while trying to bring bread home to his starving family. He spoke of despair. But more than that, he showed us the dignity, strength and humanity of people enduring the unendurable. If you have a moment today, please listen to the interview here: https://lnkd.in/eS4_mqQA I want to be clear: this is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a child rights catastrophe. Every single child in Gaza is affected. Every child is vulnerable. Many are starving. Most are deeply traumatised. None are safe. The undermining of humanitarian access, the militarisation of aid delivery and the erosion of safety and dignity at food distribution points are making a horrific situation even worse. UNICEF’s ability to safely and effectively deliver critical support, from food and clean water to obstetric kits, vaccines, incubators and mental health care, is being severely compromised. Yet, in the face of this, UNICEF will not stop. UNICEF teams remain on the ground in Gaza, doing all they can, every day, to reach children with life-saving support. But we need more: more access, more protection and more international action to uphold the rights of children. To every person and organisation in Ireland that has supported our emergency appeal for Gaza: from the bottom of my heart, thank you. The children of Gaza are not numbers. They are not headlines. They are children with names, with families, with dreams. They deserve to live in peace. #gaza #UNICEF #foreverychild

The latest edition of the Wednesday News is out!

Minister Neale Richmond spoke at the Institute of International and European Affairs today, restating his commitment to ODA. The Minister also spoke of the importance of locally-led development, the central role of women-led organisations and disability inclusion. He said "At a time of increased conflict, in the face of humanitarian crises, cognisant of setbacks in global hunger and compounded by the existential threat of climate change, ODA is needed now more than ever."

Today we attended the launch of Trócaire's new climate justice campaign, focused on why Ireland needs a fair and funded fossil fuel phase out to uphold its climate and human rights obligations.  The panel included Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change, Harjeet Singh, Strategic Advisor at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and co-founder of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, Gloria Makahwi from Women and Land Zimbabwe, and Sinéad Loughran, Climate Justice Policy & Advocacy Advisor with Trócaire. Caoimhe de Barra Sibéal Devilly

We were delighted to attend Irish Development Education Association's 2025 Conference entitled 'Reclaiming Ground for Hope, Alternatives, and Action.' The conference featured speakers on Art, Education and Justice. Minister Neale Richmond gave an address, touching on GCE, Development and ODA. President Michael D. Higgins was awarded the The Global Voice for Humanity Award, a tribute to individuals whose lives and work embody the principles of justice, human dignity, solidarity, and the transformative power of Global Citizenship Education and Development Education. Ruairí McKiernan, Bobby McCormack Caoimhe de Barra Leigh Brady

The latest issue of the Dóchas Wednesday news is out! Subscribe to get updates every week of the latest in the Overseas Development Sector.

Hectic morning in Brussels at the Development formation of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council. I made a number of contributions focussing first & foremost on the importance of maintaining overseas development aid budgets especially in the face of huge cuts. Within this, I stressed the need to maintain support for maternal health programmes, particularly in sub Saharan Africa, as they increasingly become victims of a wider culture war. It is in the EU’s strategic interests to maintain development programmes in Africa, they allow the EU to target the problems Europe faces, at source.