Presentation by the CEO of Irish Aid (Ireland)

During the private reception, Professor Pham Quang Minh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) introduced Mr. Ruairi de Burca to the collaborative activities with Irish universities, highlighting the project "Capacity Building in Key Areas of International Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities" implemented with University College Cork (UCC, Ireland) and funded by Irish Aid.

Mr. Ruairi de Burca's presentation provided an overview of the Irish government's new international development policy, entitled "A Better World".

Ireland's international development policy focuses on key priorities: gender equality, balancing humanitarian aid needs, responding to climate change, and strengthening governance capacity. For each priority, Ireland sets specific goals and methodologies to achieve them. For example, regarding gender equality, Ireland will increase funding for gender relations and gender equality across all its programs; focus more on women, peace, security, and domestic violence; promote the Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative; prioritize female children in educational support; and introduce new initiatives on Health and Reproductive Rights.

Mr. Ruairi de Burca agreed with Principal Pham Quang Minh's view that Vietnam and Ireland share many similarities, such as both having gone through the struggle for independence from colonial rule, sharing traditional values ​​in development, focusing on ensuring social values ​​alongside economic development, and considering education as a guiding principle in national development.

In line with these priorities, Ireland employs interventions divided into three areas: protection (including conflict prevention; disaster response; support for vulnerable and crisis areas), food (including sustainable food systems; agriculture and markets; integrated economic growth), and people (including education and skills; health, HIV/AIDS, reproductive rights and health; social protection).

Speaking about the context behind the new policy, Mr. Ruairi de Burca shared that in today's multipolar world order, the world is changing rapidly. Along with technological and digital development and the future of work come global problems such as conflict, human rights, climate change, poverty and inequality, migration and displacement, instability, and changes in ways of earning income and exerting influence.

The presentation was attended by a large number of faculty members, lecturers, and students from the university.

In this context, international development cooperation has become a central part of foreign policy. Ireland aims to work with global partners to address development challenges, contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, and implement other humanitarian goals and policies. It is committed to contributing 0.7% of its Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance (ODA) by 2030. All of this is geared towards a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable world. Adopting the motto "furthest behind first," Ireland's development policy demonstrates a willingness to extend its support globally, not just within its own borders.

Following his presentation, Mr. Ruairi de Burca received questions and comments from the audience on issues such as opportunities for cooperation between Vietnamese and Irish educational institutions in training social activists and entrepreneurs; opportunities to organize cultural exchange events, including Vietnamese-Ireland literature; important aspects of national development policy such as governance models, civil society, and cultural diversity; the importance of social capital and human capital in the development policy of each country, along with the need to enhance the capacity of social work staff and officials; and undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship programs at Irish universities.

Established in 1974, Irish Aid is the official agency of the Irish Government for international development. It is under the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade and managed by the Development Cooperation Office. Irish Aid's objectives are sustainable development, poverty reduction, promotion of gender equality, and environmental protection in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Irish Aid program is an integral part of Ireland's foreign policy. In Vietnam, Irish Aid supports efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability, and increase opportunities for ethnic minority groups in the most disadvantaged and inaccessible areas.