On a visit to Ethiopia last week, the Taoiseach chose to visit one of the most impoverished areas of the world and witness, first hand, profound poverty.

Amanda Keane didn’t want to be pouring pints forever. She soon landed an exciting UN job in Hanoi — but now she’s happy to be back in Ireland and surrounded by family this Christmas, writes Kelly O’Brien.

A roadmap towards Ireland meeting UN targets for international aid is expected to be set out next year by the Government.

Europe needs to find a new way of working with Africa to prevent famines and other crises repeatedly occurring, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said.

Áilín Quinlan talks to Dr Joseph Oye about his work with Sightsavers, a charity that fights avoidable blindness in places such as Cameroon

A 16-year-old student from Terenure College, Dublin has unlocked the secret to success after his encrypted data storage idea won him the title of 2017 BT Young Scientist of the Year last night.

Irish aid agency Goal is seeking up to 25 redundancies after a “challenging” 2016.

President Michael D Higgins begins his visit to Laos today - the final country on his tour of south east Asia.

Goal chief executive Barry Andrews has defended the aid agency after it emerged that the Department of Foreign Affairs is withholding almost €3m in funding from the charity.

Revolutionary, diplomat, humanitarian, poet, traitor, nationalist, homosexual, rebel — just some of the terms used to describe the complex figure that was Roger Casement.

The Government has demanded aid agency Goal clarify what caused a key US backer to suspend funding of its procurement programme in Turkey on foot of potential mismanagement concerns.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Eoin English writes about families benefitting from Chernobyl Children International and Irish Aid-funded outreach schemes

The Department of Foreign Affairs has defended its overseas aid programme, after an international ratings body ranked its transparency levels as ‘poor’ for the fourth time in six years.

There is a new Rathkeale emerging from behind the headlines created by the infamous Rathkeale Rovers gang. One community worker has a vision of one community with two cultures — and it’s working. Jimmy Woulfe talks to those working on the ground to create a better image for the town by building bridges between the settled and Traveller communities

Irish aid organisations are to receive more than €60m in government funding this year.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Chris O’Leary has seen how an Irish charity has pioneered a new foster-care model which has saved 300 vulnerable Belarussian children from a life in bleak state-run orphanages.

Irish farmers will have to prepare for a future with fewer small holdings and greater diversification away from beef and dairy as the country comes under growing pressure to tackle the causes of climate change, a minister has warned.

Legendary aid worker returns from Ethiopia for a rest before renewing efforts to help some of the world’s most dispossessed people, writes Joyce Fegan

THERE were almost as many scrums at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska yesterday as there were during a game at the Rugby World Cup.

Malawi, “the warm heart of Africa”, ranks in the bottom 15 of the United Nation’s human development index. A huge proportion of its nearly 17m population live in poverty, infant mortality is extremely high, and life expectancy is low.

One family’s desperate attempt to forge a new life for themselves in fleeing the Syrian civil war has focused world attention on the refugees’ plight by means of one extraordinarily powerful image, writes Caroline O’Doherty.

Ireland looks unlikely to meet its target for spending on overseas development aid until 2030 but the Government is committed to making substantial increases earlier.

Government development agency Irish Aid says Ireland's partner countries are making real progress in the fight against poverty and hunger.

The public has been invited to help shape and influence Cork city’s 1916 commemorations at a public workshop next week.

At least six Irish citizens known to be in Nepal during the earthquake remain unaccounted for.

Labour’s Seán Sherlock, Minister for Development, Trade Promotion, and North-South Co-operation, Corkman Mike Foott and Aubrey Belford look at the impact of the tsunami disaster of 2004 which devastated parts of Asia.

Malaria vaccines developed by Irish and British scientists have been shown to produce a strong immune response in a human trial.

Armed with nothing more than a t-shirt and and unwavering belief in the rights of the underdog, Caroline O’Doherty profiles the Peace Brigades International.

An OECD report has commended Ireland’s aid programme in tackling hunger and poverty in the developing world. Minister of State Sean Sherlock explains why Irish Aid is so successful.

President Michael D Higgins is starting the second leg of his state visit to Africa today.

The President Michael D Higgins begins a three-week state trip to Africa today.

President Michael D Higgins is visiting three African countries over the next week.

Aid agencies have questioned the Government’s commitment to contributing 0.7% of gross national income towards overseas aid after yesterday’s budget showed no increase in funding for overseas development assistance.