Higher Education Authority an tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas HEA

Irish Aid is the official development assistance programme of the Irish Government. The recently launched White Paper on Irish Aid identifies the reduction of poverty and vulnerability, and the creation of increased opportunities, as the overarching objectives of the programme. It also reiterates the central importance of the Millennium Development Goals for Ireland’s approach to development. 

The Programme of Strategic Co-operation was launched in 2006 with a budget of €12.5 million. The aim of the scheme, which is managed by the HEA, is to promote innovative research across a range of subject areas in support of Irish Aid’s mission and to develop the capacity of the higher-education sector in Ireland and abroad for developmental research.

Round 1 of the Programme was announced in July 2007. Under this round €7 million in funding was awarded to higher education and research institutes.

Round 2 of the Programme was announced in June 2008 by the Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Peter Power. Under this round €4.7 million was awarded to Higher Education and Research Institutes in Ireland.