Message of Support from President Michael D. Higgins for #LightTheWay

May I congratulate all of you for gathering in Ireland today on this Global Day of Action which has been organised, a message of hope, urgency and action to the Heads of State who will gather at the United Nations in New York tomorrow in order to agree the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Tomorrow the world’s decision-makers will agree what we all hope will be an ambitious but achievable plan of action for our people, our planet and our welfare, a plan that will seek to strengthen universal peace and by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions. 

It is my hope that by 2030, we will look back on the 25 th September 2015 as a decisive moment in global history; a moment when the nations of the world united to secure peace, to deliver freedom, equality and human rights for all and to eradicate poverty and hunger, to achieve a human flourishing in a sustainable and peaceful planet in all its diversity.

It is the challenge for all of us – elected representatives, NGO workers, students, activists and concerned citizens – over the next fifteen years, to use whatever means we have at our disposal to continue to hold governments to account, to press for implementation and ensure that decisions are truly based on the needs of the people, and particularly those who are marginalised and most vulnerable, our sisters and brothers in the human family worldwide. 

It is the task of all of us to ensure that governments genuinely implement the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and the interlinked climate action plan that will emerge from COP21 this December in Paris, and that they put monitoring in place that will enable us all to turn the agreements into a reality for this and future generations.  

Today’s gathering is an important and inspiring one; an act of global solidarity, a gathering which gives us all confidence and hope that, with the support of engaged citizens around the world we will, in fifteen years time, stand up and declare with one global voice that ‘we have truly transformed the world.’

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir

Michael D. Higgins

Uachtarán na hÉireann

President of Ireland

September 23, 2026
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), in partnership with Concern Worldwide, is undertaking research on Global North - South partnerships in Global Citizenship Education/ Development Education, with a focus on collaborations between organisations on the island of Ireland and organisations and communities in the Global South. The research aims to identify good practices and develop practical guidance that can support organisations in strengthening equitable partnerships as central to quality GCE/DE. It is important to stress this research focuses on partnerships or collaborations with educational purposes in the context of facilitating GCE/DE . This means that organisations, educators and learners work together on activities that enable people to understand the root causes of injustice and inequality at local and global levels, and prepare them to engage and build a more just and sustainable future. These activities are guided by principles such as recognition of the knowledge of all partners, mutual learning, solidarity, and an understanding of how local and global issues, people, and systems are interconnected. We would greatly value your contribution to this research. Your contributions will help inform IDEA´s ongoing work to support the sector and IDEA members, while also informing Concern Worldwide´s Global Citizenship programme. Findings will be shared (in an aggregate manner or with prior permission) in a workshop in Dublin/Hybrid on 25 November 2026. You can contribute by: Completing a short survey here. You can remain anonymous - unless you decide to complete optional questions with details of your practices; Agreeing to an online interview; approx 30-45 minutes; Sharing information about your practice via email; Taking part in a session to discuss the findings and provide feedback to a practical guide on the topic.
September 23, 2026
IDEA is seeking a consultant to analyse data captured during the pilot of the Theory of Impact for the GCE tool. The purpose of this assignment is both to understand what the pilot data can tell us about the contribution and reach of GCE activity, and to identify what IDEA can learn from the pilot data to strengthen the quality, consistency and usefulness of future data collection. Timeframe Deadline to apply: Tuesday, 06 October, 1.00pm Initial briefing with IDEA staff: Friday, 09 October First draft of report due: Wednesday, 21 October, 1.00pm Feedback from IDEA: Thursday, 29 October Final report due: Monday, 02 November Presentation of findings (provisional dates): Members involved in the pilot and impact measurement process: Friday, 06 November Public event for IDEA members and interested stakeholders: Thursday, 19 November How to Apply Please submit: A concise CV (maximum 2-3 pages) A proposal outlining: Relevant experience Referees for similar work A brief description of your proposed methodology The proposed number of days required Details of staff involved (where relevant) Your fee Please send your completed application to lizzy@ideaonline.ie and elaine@ideaonline.ie by Tuesday, 06 October, 1.00pm. The full terms of reference is here
Ireland Map
September 7, 2026
The joint letter to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee comes ahead of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council