Irish Aid launched the consultation process for the development of the new Irish Aid Global Citizenship Education Strategy in May 2026.

The public online consultation is now live: Global Citizenship Education Strategy Public Consultation and the deadline for written submissions is 17.00, 31 July.

Written submissions should not exceed 1,500 words and may be sent to gcestrategyconsultation@dfa.ie

IDEA is inviting our members to have their say by contributing to the IDEA sectoral written submission.

Please refer to the email sent to all members on 03 July. IDEA also encourages our members to have their say via their own organisational submission or by contributing to an IDEA thematic submission (Formal Education, Adult and Community Education, Youth, Higher Education and Quality & Impact).

If you have any questions about any aspect of the process for IDEA members, please contact Leigh at leigh@ideaonline.ie.

The following elements have been part of the consultation process to date:

• Information Webinar on the GCE Strategy Development and Consultation Process: Monday 08 June at 3.00pm, via Zoom.  Irish Aid presented the details of the strategy development process and the consultation process and answered questions.

• Consultation meetings between Irish Aid and IDEA Working Groups and Task Groups, at  the Irish Aid offices, Bishops’ Square, Redmond Hill, Dublin 2:

• Monday 15 June, 11.00am - 1.00pm - Youth Task Force
• Monday 15 June, 2.00pm - 4.00pm - Adult and Community Education Working Group
• Tuesday 16 June, 2.00 - 4.00pm - Formal Education Working Group 
• Thursday 02 July, 11.00am - 1.00pm- Quality and Impact Working Group

An IDEA staff member accompanied IDEA members to these meetings as observers and for general support.

In parallel with a consultation process with external audiences, Irish Aid also conducted a literature review of national policies relevant to GCE and an internal consultation with other Irish Aid units and departments.

The first draft strategy is expected to be finalised by the end of September, and it is hoped that the final version will be published by the end of the year. IDEA is keen to ensure that all members have opportunities to feed into the process - through IDEA, our Working Groups and other fora, and any wider consultation mechanisms outlined by Irish Aid. We will continue to keep members updated as we learn more.