Executive Summary
Background
i. This is a joint evaluation that assesses Ireland‟s ability to implement its international aid effectiveness commitments, as set out in the 2005 Paris Declaration and the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action. It is one of several similar exercises that contribute to a wider OECD/DAC evaluation into aid effectiveness. The team comprised an independent evaluator (who led the work) and two senior staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Findings are those of the team alone.
ii. This exercise primarily considered three institutional dimensions; a) commitment, b) capacity and c) incentives within Irish Aid (and across government) to further aid effectiveness. Like the other donor HQ evaluations, the focus was institutional capacity, not conclusions on how well Ireland was implementing its commitments, although the team were asked to comment on some specific achievements. A set of partner country evaluations is being undertaken which will provide firmer conclusions on whether aid delivery has improved.
Irish Aid iii. Irish Aid is the Development Co-operation Division of the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs (DFA). It transferred nearly €4.5 billion between 2005 and 2010 to governments, multilaterals and NGOs, 80% being spent in Africa. It provides over €1m annually in a total of 48 countries, prioritising work in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. iv. Ireland had progressively increased its Overseas Development Assistance allocation up to 2008 and retains the aim of meeting the 0.7% UN target of Gross National Income (GNI). However, as a result of the global recession, aid allocations were reduced in 2009 by 29% from the previous year‟s budget, resulting in a 2009 spend of €464.6m. ODA as a percentage of GNI remains at 0.54%, down from a peak of 0.59%.
v. Irish Aid is a comparatively small organisation, with less than 300 staff in total across all its locations. In Ireland it is based in Limerick, away from the main Department of Foreign Affairs HQ in Dublin (though it also retains a presence there). This relatively small number of personnel enables a collaborative, positive and open culture to be maintained. However, there are concerns about a recent rapid turnover of staff and associated retention of skills.