Funding increase needed to support Global Citizenship in Ireland 

Global Citizenship crucial to achieving Ireland’s commitments to SDGs 

The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is calling on the Government to increase Global Citizenship Education Funding to support Ireland’s commitments to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, starting with a commitment of €10 million in Budget 2023. 

Target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals aims to ensure that all learners gain the knowledge and skills needed to be able to promote sustainable and equitable development and fulfil all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

In its recent Development Assistance Committee Peer Review of Ireland, the OECD noted that “Ireland has received international recognition for its Development Education (Global Citizenship Education) strategies” but that “mobilising more funds for Development Education, would allow Ireland to reap the benefits of its strong approach to promoting global citizenship.”  

Frank Geary, Director of IDEA said: "The quality Global Citizenship Education provided in Ireland enables people to understand the world, and engage with issues such as climate justice, equality, and racism. IDEA members reach hundreds of thousands of people of all ages across the island of Ireland, supporting them in exploring these issues, and taking action for change. Global Citizenship Education is crucial to achieving Ireland’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and we are almost half-way through the timeline for the Goals. Significantly increasing investment in Global Citizenship Education at this point will not only enable the fulfilment of Ireland’s commitments to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but the delivery of key parts of the Programme for Government.“ 

IDEA’s Pre-Budget submission has outlined six recommendations for the Government in the run up to Budget 2023: 

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• Support delivery of quality lifelong quality Global Citizenship Education (GCE) programmes that reaches all of society #SDG 4.7 
• In line with the European Benchmark, increase Global Citizenship Education Funding to 3% of Official Development Assistance Budget by 2025, starting with a commitment of €10 million in Budget 2023 
• Include dedicated Global Citizenship Education funding streams in relevant national strategies such as the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, the National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, the Climate Action Plan, and the National Plan Against Racism
• Work towards Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% GNI as called for by Dóchas 
• Ensure strategic cross-government prioritisation and policy coherence for Global Citizenship Education
• Ensure that Global Citizenship Education grantees are adequately resourced, so that those working in this sector have decent and secure work in line with SDG 8.