Lenihan Announces Five-Year Support Package For Christian Aid

Speaking in St Patrick's Cathedral accompanied by the Head of Christian Aid Ireland, Margaret Boden and the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev Dr Robert McCarthy, he revealed that Irish Aid funding to Christian Aid will increase from €7 million for the period 2003 to 2006 to €17 million over the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011.

"Irish Aid has very effective partnerships with Irish NGOs, such as Christian Aid. Our work with these organisations greatly enhances the impact of our efforts to reduce poverty amongst the world's poorest people," the Minister said.

"Multi-annual support enables these organisations to plan and implement longer-term development programmes, to operate with more flexibility and to ensure greater sustainability."

Irish Aid's partnership with Christian Aid goes back to late 70s.

The first block funding to Christian Aid was awarded in 1996. Irish Aid supports the work of Christian Aid Ireland in Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Columbia and Sierra Leone.

Christian Aid's partners in these countries strive to improve the livelihoods of target communities, promote accountability within government and support individuals, families and communities impacted by HIV/AIDs.