The Irish Government has committed more than €500,000 in funding to civil society organisations in Nepal under Irish Aid’s Civil Society Fund, strengthening efforts to promote inclusion, empowerment and resilience in rural communities.

The funding announcement took place during the Irish Ambassador’s visit to Nepal as part of a high-level EU diplomatic mission, which included 21 ambassadors and representatives from EU member states. The announcement is part of a broader package of €7.9 million in grants for ten Irish NGOs working globally on development and human rights.

According to the press release issued by the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, the funding “aims to contribute to a sustainable and empowered civil society by mobilising marginalised people in three districts in rural Nepal.” It emphasises key priorities such as “promoting gender equality and social inclusion, youth empowerment, enhancing resilience to climate change, advocating for agro-ecology, ensuring food security and civil rights.”

Two Irish organisations—The Social and Health Education Project (SHEP) and the Irish Red Cross—will implement projects in partnership with local Nepali organisations.

SHEP has been awarded €330,000 over three years for its project Shakti Phase 2 – Empowering Civil Society in Nepal, to be delivered in collaboration with long-term local partner Sahakarmi Samaj. The press release noted that “these two organisations have over seventeen years’ experience working in partnership to support the most marginalised communities in Nepal, through community empowerment programmes.”

The Irish Red Cross will receive €200,000 over two years for its project Empowering Communities, Building Resilience, implemented with the Nepal Red Cross. The project will “enable targeted groups to increase their economic security through diversified livelihood strategies, including introducing better climate-smart agricultural practices.” It will also “increase social inclusion and empowerment by supporting people with disabilities and establish community-based organisations to promote collective action and decision-making.”

The EU diplomatic mission also held meetings with Nepalese leadership, including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, alongside civil society stakeholders and business leaders. The visit underlined the EU's and Ireland’s collective commitment to Nepal’s long-term development and democratic progress.