Pre-Budget Submission 2026

As the world faces growing hunger, violence and death by preventable illness, aid programmes are being dismantled. In 2024, the world faced a US$25 billion gap between funds required for United Nations (UN) appeals and funds received. 

This gap is now set to more than double as United States (US) and European donors slash their Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets. The impact of the cuts on affected populations is devastating. For example, aid cuts have strongly impacted women-led organisations, many of whom will close in 2025, threatening essential life-saving services in gender-based violence (GBV) response, protection and healthcare for women and girls.

This comes at a time when progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critically off track, with only 17% of SDG targets on course to be met.

At a time of geopolitical unrest, the destabilising effects of conflict, hunger, displacement and aid cuts must be met with sustainable, transformative solutions. Ireland has an opportunity to position itself as a progressive leader through our principled approach to development, humanitarian assistance, climate justice and the upholding of international law. Our increased diplomatic presence, our role in developing the SDGs and our role in protecting humanitarian principles at the UN Security Council, have strengthened our reputation as an island at the centre of the world, with a broad mind and a strong independent voice that promotes the values and principles of a rules-based, multilateral
system.

Our values must be matched by our commitments and our ability to deliver on them. The Government of Ireland must uphold its commitment to the furthest behind around the world, and continue to increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) spent overseas in its annual budget, to realise our target of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) in ODA by 2030.

In the forthcoming budget, we encourage the Government to go a step further, accelerate progress to reach the targets it has set, and work more closely with civil society actors and organisations on the ground.

Recommendations for the Irish Government in Budget 2026:

• Make real progress to realise our commitment of 0.7% GNI on ODA spent overseas by 2030 by increasing the ODA budget in 2026 by €300 million and publish a pathway to achieve this.
• Increase Ireland’s climate finance to our ‘fair share’ of €500 million.
• Provide at least 30% of Ireland’s ODA to and through civil society across humanitarian, development and climate programmes and funding.

Download the Dóchas Pre-Budget Submission 2026 here