IDEA's Partnership with Deloitte Ireland Continues to Grow

IDEA's Partnership with Deloitte Ireland Continues to Grow


IDEA’s engagement in the private sector partnership has resulted in new collaborations with Deloitte Ireland. Together they delivered a Global Citizenship Education (GCE) workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for their staff as part of Deloitte’s community-focused ‘Impact Week’ in October 2020. Based on the positive feedback, IDEA and Deloitte teamed up again for two further workshops for over 100 new staff in December 2020 with Development Perspectives for Deloitte's induction programme. Through these workshops, Deloitte staff members experienced GCE methodologies that enabled them to reflect and think critically about SDG-related issues and explore opportunities for action in business and personal contexts. 

Here is a message from Claire Sinnott, Deloitte’s Corporate Responsibility Senior who has worked closely with IDEA.


“Following a successful session as part of Impact Week, we invited the IDEA/Bridge 47 team back to facilitate two more sessions with our group of incoming Audit graduates. Impact Week is an annual event that gives us the opportunity to educate and inspire our people to find and activate their purpose through transformative days of speeches, panel discussions, networking and workshops. It is really important to us that employees get a sense of Deloitte’s commitment to corporate responsibility and the firm’s purpose to make an impact in the community early in their career with us and understand how they can make a difference through their role. We felt that Ji and the team could help deliver this message with us through GCE focusing on the SDGs.


In Deloitte, we have used the SDGs to benchmark our Corporate Responsibility activity to ensure that our agenda and programmes are aligned to achieving the 2030 Goals. The SDGs also align to Deloitte’s global WorldClass initiative which aims to prepare 50 million futures for a world of opportunity by 2030. Here in Ireland, we are committed to preparing 180,000 futures for a world of opportunity to play our part in this global commitment. Through our volunteering programmes, we commit to investing time in education, skills building and access to opportunity. We do this through our work with charities which allow our people to positively contribute to their local communities.


The SDG workshops provide great context to the work we’re doing and they are also a fun and engaging way to challenge our staff to think more deeply about issues such as inequality and poverty. The IDEA/Bridge 47 team are passionate and really care about providing a bespoke session, weaving in relevant examples of our own projects for our people to get the full benefit of the session. I attended all three sessions myself and each one was different and applicable to the audience attending. I’d also like to highlight that these sessions all took place in a virtual setting, adding extra considerations and challenges in terms of providing an engaging session. The feedback from our people has been excellent. A total of 140 participants over the three sessions gave a rating 4.9 out of 5 stars. Going forward, we hope to work with the team again as we roll out more sessions across the firm, inviting them to take part in our Environmental Impact Week.

As a Corporate Responsibility professional, the sessions always leave me with a renewed sense of purpose and reminder of why this agenda is so important for businesses to get right. I am hugely passionate about the potential business holds to make a positive impact in our society and empowering our people to get involved in that ambition. The sessions have also provided me with some great resources and learning materials to support my own role in educating our people. Thanks to all the fantastic IDEA/Bridge 47 team!”


Another Deloitte staff, Hannah O'Keeffe who attended the first SDG workshop, also wrote a blog sharing her experience and learning. Check out her blog here.


This was first published by the Bridge47 Project

August 11, 2025
Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity “Ireland has received international recognition for its development education strategies… Without additional investment, we cannot seize the opportunity to turn development-aware children into development-aware adults.” - OECD DAC Peer Review of Ireland Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here . For over half a century, Ireland has invested in Global Citizenship Education (GCE), enabling people across the island to explore complex issues such as climate justice, human rights, and equality - and to take informed action for a more just and sustainable world. Between 2021 and 2024, €33.6 million was invested in programmes reaching over 1.2 million people, helping to embed GCE across schools, communities, and other learning spaces. This investment has made Ireland a European and global leader in the field. But in today’s turbulent context - with rising disinformation, polarisation, climate emergencies, and deepening inequalities - the need for GCE has never been greater. As Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, told the IDEA Annual Conference in May 2025: “Now is the time to focus on the hard issues… These are among the greatest challenges of our time.” Why Now? Budget 2026 comes at a critical moment. Ireland is: Running out of time to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Preparing a new national GCE strategy for the next five years. Operating in a global context where democratic values, human rights, and multilateral cooperation are under unprecedented strain. The OECD has commended Ireland’s strong GCE strategies but has also warned that without additional investment, we risk falling short on SDG Target 4.7 - ensuring all learners acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. Our Key Budget 2026 Asks:  Increase investment in GCE Move towards the widely recognised target of 3% of Official Development Assistance (ODA), using a cross-departmental approach and accounting for inflation. Current spending is 1.2% of ODA - far below the €26 million annually needed to reach the 3% target. Boost GCE/ESD funding under “ESD to 2030” Provide adequate and dedicated funding for projects led by organisations, schools, and higher education institutions to ensure the successful delivery of the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development. Create dedicated GCE/ESD funding lines Integrate and resource GCE/ESD within the SDG National Implementation Plan, Climate Action Plan, and National Action Plan Against Racism, recognising that climate justice and anti-racism are core components of global citizenship. Increase Ireland’s ODA Commit to a €300 million increase in Budget 2026 to make tangible progress towards the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2030. Adopt Coalition 2030 recommendations Implement budget measures that ensure resources reach those furthest behind first, and align budget lines with specific SDG targets. Beyond Funding – Policy Coherence and Decent Work In addition to resourcing, GCE requires stronger coordination across government departments and better integration into policies, institutions, and networks. GCE practitioners must also have secure, decent working conditions in line with SDG 8, ensuring that expertise is retained within the sector. The Opportunity for Ireland Ireland is respected globally for its principled, values-based approach to international development. By investing in GCE now, we can: Strengthen civic trust, participation, and resilience in our society. Equip citizens to navigate complex global challenges. Ensure Ireland remains a strong, independent voice for justice, solidarity, and human rights on the world stage. Budget 2026 is our opportunity to protect the progress made, scale up impact, and deliver on our commitments. IDEA and our members are ready to work with Irish Aid and across government to ensure Ireland continues to lead with integrity, foresight, and global solidarity. _______________________________________________________ Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here to explore our recommendations in detail and see how, together, we can strengthen Global Citizenship Education in Ireland and beyond.
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August 2, 2025
Catch-up on a Summer of Learning!
July 24, 2025
IDEA invites tender submissions from interested auditing service suppliers to provide auditing and associated professional services to the organisation from the year ending 31 December 2025. IDEA is seeking to engage an experienced auditing service firm that will provide the full range of auditing services required to fulfil its statutory obligations, to comply with relevant accounting and reporting standards and best practice. All submissions to be made to sal@ideaonline.ie You can find the full details here. The deadline for the application is Monday, 11 August, 5pm .