€10m for overseas humanitarian funding

The Government today allocated €10m in grants for projects run by Irish and international humanitarian groups in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.

A Dublin firm, Camara Education, that supplies computer equipment to Africa received €1.2m while the Law Society was given €200,000 for training lawyers from poor backgrounds South Africa.

An initiative to help minority Indians to re-occupy their traditional lands in Brazil was also supported.

A total of 41 separate projects in 31 countries will be helped.

“Support for NGOs’ development work is central to Irish Aid’s efforts to reduce global poverty,” said Overseas Development Minister Peter Power.

“Irish Aid has built strong partnerships with NGOs and missionaries active in many of the world’s least developed countries.

“As well as supporting broader development, these organisations play a critical role in galvanising communities to reduce poverty. The funding announced today will strengthen our partnership over the coming years,” he added.

This year Irish Aid will provide a total of €140m for overseas development work of Irish and international NGOs.

Other groups which received funding include the Co Cork-based Edith Wilkins Foundation for its work with young boys in India and the Jampa Ling Trust in Co Cavan which creates jobs for women in Mongolia.

The Leprosy Mission which provides health services in Bangladesh and the Ivory Coast was also supported along with Dublin-based Serve which is building a hostel for girls in Mozambique.

The international organisations receiving funding include Anti Slavery International, Global Witness Trust and UK-based Concern Universal.

The Government’s Civil Society Fund focuses on poverty alleviation among the poorest people of the world by providing funding for sustainable development projects.