Pre-Budget Submission 2022

Dóchas, the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations, calls on the Irish Government to act now on its commitment to reach the target of spending 0.7% of its GNI on Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 2030. 

In Budget 2022, funding to ODA is needed #NowMoreThanEver if we are to show global solidarity in the wake of the triple crisis caused by the pandemic, climate change and conflict. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain a critical roadmap to allow Ireland to meet these complex challenges in partnership with the EU, the UN, Irish NGOs and other critical partners. We must act now so that no-one is left behind. We must act now because no-one is safe until everyone is safe. We welcome the Programme for Government commitment in ‘Our Shared Future’ to reach the internationally recognised target of 0.7% spend of GNI by 2030. To make this ambition a reality the Government needs to increase the pace by committing to reaching 0.5% over the course of its tenure to Budget 2025.

We are also encouraged by the Irish public’s continued support for Official Development Assistance, and their recognition that the work of Irish NGOs makes a huge difference to people’s lives and to local communities. It is this strong global solidarity that gives Ireland a platform to punch above its weight on development, humanitarian and human rights issues. It is part of who we are and the kind of society we want to be.

In Budget 2022, Dóchas urges the Government to act in five key areas:

1. Increase Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget in
   Budget 2022. Increasing ODA in real terms will allow Ireland to keep
   pace with global needs now and in the post-COVID environment. This
   will also set Ireland on a targeted pathway to achieving 0.5% by 2025
   and 0.7% by 2030. 
2. Ensure additional and targeted financing for climate change mitigation
   and adaptation to support Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small
   Island Developing States (SIDS). This is critical to addressing the
   climate emergency, recognising the intricate relationship between the
   impacts of climate change - poverty and conflict.
3. Step up its call to protect human rights defenders and promote civil
   society at the EU, the UN Security Council, and in other international
   fora, in order to ensure inclusive approaches to humanitarian aid,
   development, conflict prevention, resolution and peace-building.
   In particular, Ireland needs to continue to recognise the value of women
   and girls, people living with a disability, and other marginalised groups.
4. As an EU member state, Ireland needs to advocate to ensure that the
   global community produces enough vaccine doses for everyone,
   everywhere. EU member states must ensure that COVID-19 vaccines
   are produced as widely as possible, through the sharing of technical
   knowledge and know how, free from patents.
5. Strengthen Ireland’s global leadership on Zero Hunger by ensuring our ODA
   is responding to rapidly rising needs. In particular, use the opportunity of the
   UN Food Systems and Nutrition for Growth Summits to scale up significantly
   Ireland’s investments in food security and nutrition between now and 2030,
   applying a food systems approach, which actively advances the right to food.

Download Pre-Budget Submission 2022