The Future of Development Cooperation Civil Society’s Ambition for Ireland’s EU Presidency
Royal Irish Academy Music (RIAM) Dublin 2,
Wednesday, 24th June 2026, 9.00 – 14.00
As Ireland prepares to embark on its eighth Presidency of the Council of the European Union, commencing in July 2026, Dóchas will be delivering a programme of activities and events to support civil society and elevate its central and critical role in international development cooperation, in a context of intense geopolitical uncertainty.
This event will provide a platform for civil society to articulate a shared ambition for Ireland’s EU Presidency and contribute to EU-level policy discussions on the future of development cooperation. It will also be an opportunity to encourage conversations between civil society actors, policy makers and experts in the field on the EU development agenda and potentially lay the ground for a more inclusive EU policy process.
Key Objectives of the Event
Facilitate dialogue between civil society, policymakers, and EU stakeholders on the future of EU development cooperation.
Highlight civil society perspectives and recommendations for Ireland’s EU Presidency priorities and elevate the role of civil society as an indispensable partner in EU External action.
Reaffirm the centrality of poverty eradication, human rights, and sustainable development in EU external action and contribute to shaping a people-centred, Irish EU-Presidency agenda.
Agenda
0900 – 0930 | Registration |
0930 – 0935 | Welcome to the Launch Event Shona Murray | European Affairs Correspondent, Euronews |
0935-0950 | Dóchas’ EU Presidency: Key themes and Activities Jane-Ann McKenna | CEO, Dóchas |
0950 – 0955 | Opening Remarks Peter Power | Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, European Commission |
0955 – 1055 | Panel Discussion 1: Civil Society in a new era of Development Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges Video message from Commissioner Michael McGrath | Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, European Commission Panel Discussion: Marlene Holzner | Head of Unit, Civil Society Organisations, Local Authorities, and Foundations, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission Dr Moses Isooba | Executive Director, Uganda National CSO Platform Celia Cranfield | Head of Policy, CONCORD Europe Seán Farrell | CEO, Trócaire Q & A |
1100– 1115 | Keynote Address Neale Richmond TD | Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
1130 – 1200 | Coffee Break |
1200 – 1315 | Panel Discussion 2: Reflecting Ireland’s values in a renewed approach to the EU’s international partnerships Panel Discussion: Barry Ward TD | Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee for European Affairs Dominic Crowley | CEO, Concern Worldwide Emily Wigens | EU Director, ONE Campaign Dr. Nadine Saba | Co-Founder & Director, Akkar Network for Development, Lebanon Dr. Alexei Jones | Head of European Foreign and Development Policy, ECDPM Q & A |
1315 – 1330 | Closing Remarks Michael Gaffey | Director-General, Development Cooperation and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
1330 – 1430 | Lunch and Networking |
Speaker Bios
Jane-Ann McKenna | CEO, Dóchas
Joined Dóchas as CEO in late 2021, bringing extensive experience from leading Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) humanitarian teams in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Sudan. She also serves on the board of CONCORD Europe and the Irish Advisory Board of UCD Business Schools.
Shona Murray | European Affairs Correspondent, Euronews
Based in Brussels, Shona Murray covers major European and global stories including EU institutions, NATO, the war in Ukraine, and Middle Eastern affairs. She has a deep background in international reporting across 35+ countries and holds postgraduate degrees in International Peace Studies and International Law from Trinity College Dublin.
Peter Power | Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, European Commission
Peter Power is Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland since February 2025. He has extensive experience in high-ranking positions within the European Commission and its Cabinets.
Commissioner Michael McGrath | Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, European Commission
Commissioner Michael McGrath assumed this European Commissioner role in December 2024, steering EU-wide portfolios on upholding the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights, and strengthening consumer policy. Prior to his move to Brussels, he served at the highest levels of Irish politics as Minister for Finance (2022–2024) and Minister for Public Expenditure
Marlene Holzner | Head of Unit, Civil Society Organisations, Local Authorities, and Foundations, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission
Marlene Holzner has led this unit within the Directorate-General for International Partnerships since 2020, managing a team responsible for the EU’s 2021–2027 Civil Society Programme
Dr Moses Isooba | Executive Director, Uganda National CSO Platform
Dr. Moses Isooba is the executive director of the Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) – a sharing and reflection Platform of National and INGOs in Uganda. Prior to joining UNNGOF, Dr Isooba was a governance advisor with ActionAid Denmark.
Celia Cranfield | Head of Policy, CONCORD Europe
Celia is the the Head of Advocacy at CONCORD since 2022 having previously joined the secretariat in 2020 as Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor for Financing and Funding for Sustainable Development. Before joining CONCORD, Celia worked at VOICE, the European humanitarian NGO platform as Senior Advocacy Officer for six years and also for CONCORD member, Light For the World as EU Advocacy and Liaison Officer for four years.
Seán Farrell | CEO, Trócaire
Seán Farrell is Chief Executive Officer of the major Irish international development charity, Trócaire. He brings over three decades of total development sector experience to the helm, including six years leading Trócaire’s International Division.
Neale Richmond TD | Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Appointed to this specific ministerial portfolio in January 2025, he oversees Ireland’s international development cooperation and engagement with the global diaspora. Representing Dublin Rathdown, he previously held junior ministerial roles in Finance and Enterprise, and led the Irish delegation to the EU Committee of the Regions.
Barry Ward TD | Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee for European Affairs
Serving as a Fine Gael parliamentary representative for Dún Laoghaire, he acts as the Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs steering Ireland’s EU policy scrutiny. In his legislative work, he manages the committee’s engagement on strategic EU policy, human rights issues, and regional development initiatives.
Dominic Crowley | CEO, Concern Worldwide
Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Concern Worldwide in 2024, he originally began his humanitarian career as an overseas volunteer in Liberia in the late 1980s. He is a prominent specialist in emergency programming and security risk management, having previously served as President of the European NGO network VOICE.
Emily Wigens | EU Director, ONE Campaign
Based in Brussels, she leads the ONE Campaign’s advocacy and political lobbying across the European Union institutions to combat extreme poverty and preventable disease. She focuses heavily on the EU’s long-term Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) budget negotiations, advocating against cuts to international development funds.
Dr. Nadine Saba | Co-Founder & Director, Akkar Network for Development, Lebanon
Dr. Nadine Saba is the co-founder and director of Akkar Network for Development (AND), with nearly two decades of experience working with NGOs in Lebanon. AND has been active in Lebanon’s Akkar region since 2011, focusing on support for vulnerable women, youth, and children, including work on gender-based violence, education, and psychosocial support.
Dr. Alexei Jones | Head of European Foreign and Development Policy, ECDPM
Dr Alexei Jones leads ECDPM’s European foreign and development policy team, with an academic background in international and European law and a PhD from the University of Nice – Sophia Antipolis. Before joining ECDPM, he worked as a policy officer at the European Commission’s DG for International Cooperation and Development, and has served as counsellor and adviser to several EU Council presidencies.
Michael Gaffey | Director-General, Development Cooperation and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Michael Gaffey is Director-General of the Development Cooperation and Africa Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he oversees Ireland’s overseas development aid programme and bilateral engagement with Africa. He is one of Ireland’s most senior officials working at the intersection of diplomacy and development.