Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2026
156. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total humanitarian aid provided by Ireland to conflict-affected regions in Africa in 2025; the monitoring processes to ensure funds reach intended beneficiaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7860/26]
View answerThe number and complexity of humanitarian crises has increased significantly in recent years, with a rise in violent conflicts and violations of international humanitarian law devastating the lives of civilians. The UN estimates that over 300 million people were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance last year. Half of the numbers of people targeted for humanitarian assistance were in sub-Saharan Africa. Conflict continued to be the most significant driver of increased humanitarian needs in Africa, and globally.
The Government's development programme, Irish Aid, prioritises the provision of needs-based, principled humanitarian aid. We focus on the largest humanitarian crises such as in Sudan and Gaza, but also to crises which receive less attention, in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. In 2025, for instance, Ireland provided over €70 million in humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected regions in Africa.
Our humanitarian assistance in Africa has been channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross Family and NGOs. In addition to funding provided through Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, support is also provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,. Last year, €10 million of that Departments funding to the World Food Programme was earmarked for countries in the Horn of Africa. Ireland was also the 8th largest contributor to the Central Emergency Response Fund, the United Nations global emergency response fund, which in 2025 allocated over $200 million to countries in Africa.
Our humanitarian response is subject to strong accountability to crisis-affected people and ensures involvement and ownership by national and local actors in affected countries, to make aid more effective and cost-efficient.
All our partners are subject to the governance, audit and compliance conditions set out in the Department's Standard Approach to Grant Management. These included a detailed analysis of partner capacity, reporting and audit. This is complemented by the Department’s counter-fraud policy, legislation and procedures on protected disclosure, information on whistleblowing, and appropriate monitoring.
Partners are also subject to robust internal and external controls, including audit and evaluation, managed by the Department's independent Evaluation and Audit Unit and validated by the external Audit Committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General also assesses this Department's internal controls.
