The difference Irish Aid funding made in 2025 through Ireland’s missionary organisations

The difference Irish Aid funding made in 2025 through Ireland’s missionary organisations  

Irish missionary organisations delivered health, education, climate resilient livelihoods and emergency support to almost 1.13 million people across the Global South last year - even as conflict, climate change and global aid cuts made the work harder than ever. 

An Irish charity that supports missionary work in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities has recently released figures on the impact of Irish Aid-supported projects across the globe. 

Misean Cara, an Irish non-governmental organisation made up of 77 missionary member groups working in 40 countries, has released its latest annual report that details how Irish Aid funding is helping more than 1 million of the most vulnerable people across the Global South. 

Across the year, €13.5 million in funding, the majority from Irish Aid, helped Ireland’s missionary development organisations reach almost 1.13 million people through 344 projects in 40 countries - a scale of impact that stands out even more starkly against a backdrop of shrinking global aid budgets. 

It comes at a critical time: 2025 saw the sharpest annual fall in global Official Development Assistance on record, down 23.1% on the previous year. Against that backdrop, Misean Cara’s model - built on missionary organisations that have often worked in the same communities for decades or generations - proved its worth. 

“2025 was a demanding year for international development, marked by escalating conflicts, the worsening impacts of climate change, and significant reductions to global aid budgets,” said John Moffett, CEO of Misean Cara.  

“Yet throughout it all, Ireland’s missionary organisations remained a steadfast source of hope for communities living on the margins across the Global South. Their long-term presence and deep roots in local communities make them uniquely effective in delivering lasting change. The results reflected in this report are a powerful testament to the value of Ireland's continued commitment to funding Official Development Assistance, and we are grateful to Irish Aid for the strategic partnership that makes this work possible.” 

Livelihoods - Over 71,000 households in 26 countries improved their livelihood opportunities, and 84% reported better food and nutrition security as a result. 

Health - Almost 983,000 people across 24 countries gained access to improved healthcare, clean water and better sanitation. Seven in ten received health services completely free of charge, and 2,000 local health professionals were trained or upskilled - building capacity that will outlast any single year of funding. 

Education - More than 118,000 learners enrolled in quality education across 33 countries, with an exceptional 98% staying in school for the full year. 

Health - Almost 983,000 people across 24 countries gained access to improved healthcare, clean water and better sanitation. Seven in ten received health services completely free of charge, and 2,000 local health professionals were trained or upskilled - building capacity that will outlast any single year of funding. 

Human rights and justice - 1.1 million people across 26 countries were supported in claiming their human rights. Of the 8,588 rights violations reported to authorities, 927 victims went on to access justice and legal support. 

Emergency response - When disaster struck, Misean Cara's network was there: 47,000 people across 19 countries received emergency assistance, with members responding to 32 sudden-onset emergencies - from cyclones and earthquakes to floods, conflict and an oil spill, in countries stretching from Afghanistan to Ecuador. 

Presence, not just projects 

What sets Misean Cara’s member organisations apart is their long-term commitment to the communities they serve. They choose to live and work in some of the world's most remote and challenging places, often in areas where few others can sustain a presence. Many have lived and worked alongside the same communities for generations, building the kind of trust that turns a funded project into lasting change. That showed up in real lives in 2025: 

A young woman in South Sudan training as a mechanic and driver, after years of disrupted education. 

Families in Malawi moving from hunger towards self-reliance. 

Children with disabilities in Cambodia gaining access to education and inclusion for the first time. 

Young mothers in Kenya returning to finish their schooling. 

Rural families in Pakistan accessing healthcare and clean water for the first time in their lives. 

Innovation with lasting impact 

Beyond the headline numbers, Misean Cara member projects deliver long-term solutions for a lasting difference in communities, including:  

• The Inter-congregational Sustainable Agriculture Programme introduced Indigenous Micro Organisms (IMO) technology - a low-cost, locally produced alternative to chemical fertiliser - to over 3,000 farmers across Uganda and East Africa. The innovation proved so effective it’s now part of Uganda's national agricultural training curriculum. 
• Misean Cara became a founding member of the SafeBirth4All coalition, working towards the global eradication of obstetric fistula by 2040. 
• The Salesian Sisters and Good Shepherd Sisters advanced digital rights for girls across six countries, contributing directly to a UN consultation on youth and digital education. 
• 19 member organisations transitioned to Misean Cara’s new Member Managed Grants scheme, deepening the shift towards locally led development and putting decision-making closer to the communities in need. 

A model that delivers, even under pressure 

With global aid funding falling at its fastest rate on record, Misean Cara’s 2025 results are a reminder of what long-term, community-rooted development can achieve even in a shrinking funding environment - and of the difference Irish taxpayers’ support, channelled through Irish Aid, continues to make for some of the world's most vulnerable people. 

51 Misean Cara member organisations were involved in the 2025 programme, delivering 344 projects across 40 countries with €13.5 million in funding, the majority from Irish Aid. 

Learn more at www.miseancara.ie