How have Irish attitudes to overseas development aid changed since 2020?
Worldview’s strategic advisor, David Hudson of Development Engagement Lab, conducted macro-analysis of the first 6 years of data to identify trends and insights that emerged about Irish attitudes over time. Through his analysis, David identified new insights about:
- What makes people in Ireland support overseas aid
- What can shift a person’s views and opinions
- What values underpin societal support
- What drives an individual’s willingness to donate
What was identified is that public support remains high, underpinned by deeply held worldviews. Demographic differences (like age and education) largely ‘wash out’ once you account for an individual’s moral values and sense of global identity. Furthermore, when individuals increase their support for aid, it is rarely due to media exposure. Instead, it is driven by a shift in their moral conviction – the single most powerful lever for change in the Irish public. Ultimately, moral conviction was identified as the ‘Master Key’ to shifting public opinion. While perceived affordability was identified as the primary barrier, and support drops while domestic economic anxiety rises, a moral basis for supporting development and development aid is a foundation for Ireland’s strong level of support.
Much like public support, donation behaviour is anchored in deeply held identities. Unsurprisingly, charitable behaviour is rarely an isolated act; it is part of a broader pro-social lifestyle. Volunteering is the ultimate behavioural signal. If an individual has volunteered in the previous 12 months, it increases the probability of donating by 68%, a very considerable amount, which suggests that ‘giving’ of time and money are two sides of the same coin for the Irish public.
Explore the full report of insights in the link below or scan the topline insights in the carousel.
