WorldWise Global Schools Conference: Meaningful Action

In late April, the annual WorldWise Global Schools conference took place in Croke Park with the theme of ‘Meaningful Action’. This interactive day invites post-primary teachers and students from all over the country to engage to learn and showcase their Development Education practice. Now into its 4th year it has also established itself as an important date in Ireland’s ‘Development Education’ calendar, a chance for many practitioners and NGOs to come together along with the schools participating to think critically about our DE practice.

This year’s theme focused on three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs or ‘Global Goals’) – on ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’, ‘Climate Action’ and ‘Responsible Consumption’. The day was opened by Minister of State Joe McHugh and Stephanie Kirwan of Development Perspectives gave an introduction to the SDG agenda for those present as well as highlighting her own work on the #SDGchallenge.

The next session was a youth panel to explore how young people are taking meaningful action on the three Goals. The panellists were Meaghan Carmody (Young Friends of the Earth), Phil Manifold (ECO-UNESCO), Annique van Niekerk (Nu – Ethical Fashion Community which was supported via Suas’ Ideas Collective), Stephanie Kirwan (Development Perspectives) and Grace McManus (Bray Refugee Solidarity Group/10,000 missing children campaign). This was a hugely inspiring part of the day for everyone present: the students got to hear from their peers about how they became activists; and the rest of us listened to a truly transformative story of young people who learned about an issue, felt compelled to do something and joined others to figure out a way that they could make a difference. What’s more, these young people had come through various Development Education interventions over the last number of years and were testament to the excellent work of so many civil society actors – NGOs, youth workers and teachers.

The rest of the day focussed on workshops on the global goals with the students as well as a separate session for teachers facilitated by WWGS, along with IDEA and Ubuntu. The workshops looked at key issues locally and globally relating to the issues as well as developing ideas for meaningful action together. The day closed with the presentation of ‘Global passports’ to schools taking part in the WWGS programme.

All in all it was an excellent event for those active in post-primary education and the Development Education sector more broadly. The event consisted of the wonderful combination of amazing attention to detail, along with mild chaos which is part and parcel of most Development Education events involving over 300 people! The panel in particular was a powerful demonstration of the potential of good Development Education Practice and the real impact that it has to encourage critical understanding and activism to transform our communities and global structures affecting our lives.

Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity

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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IDEA Members Summer Knowledge Share Session Catch-Up

August 2, 2025
Catch-up on a Summer of Learning!

Call for Tender: Auditing Services

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 .