U.S. and U.K. funding withdrawal from a peace organization sparks concerns among Northern Irish community projects regarding potential closure
The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), a key supporter of community and peacebuilding projects in Northern Ireland, is seeking clarity about the future of US government support for its programs. This uncertainty comes amidst reports of the US government withdrawing funding, a move that could potentially force the closure of the IFI and jeopardise ongoing efforts towards reconciliation in a region still grappling with the legacy of the Troubles and recent challenges like Brexit.
The IFI has invested approximately €974 million in over 6,000 projects aimed at peacebuilding, including the removal of peace walls and programs designed to prevent youth involvement in violence. The withdrawal of US funding, coupled with the UK government's withholding of its last phase of funding, could leave grassroots and community organisations working on issues such as economic and social exclusion, transgenerational trauma, and political alienation in a precarious position.
Projects funded by the IFI create safe spaces for dialogue among diverse groups, promoting understanding and reconciliation - a process central to the Good Friday Agreement's vision of shared governance and peace. Without the IFI's support, these initiatives could be at risk, potentially undermining the fragile peace process.
Conal McFeely, of Creggan Enterprises, has expressed concern about the impact on marginalised communities in Northern Ireland due to the potential closure of the IFI. Other organisations, like Creggan Enterprises, have been told to consider winding down their projects due to the potential funding withdrawal.
The IFI has received financial support from a range of international donors, including the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK, in addition to the US government. However, with the closure of USAid, which administers foreign aid for the US government, and the UK government's withdrawal of funds, the IFI is facing a significant funding shortfall.
Despite the uncertainty, the IFI emphasises that support from its partners, including the US government, remains critical in its ability to deliver peace and reconciliation initiatives in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. The US government has traditionally been the IFI's largest funder, providing €2.5 million last year.
However, it is not yet clear how this will impact the IFI. Groups which deliver its projects in Ireland fear their funding will not be renewed at the end of this financial year. There is a lack of alternative funders willing to take a risk on projects that may be affected by the IFI's funding situation.
The IFI was established by the British and Irish governments in 1986 to promote economic and social development and bring together nationalist, unionist, and cross-Border communities. It has spent over three decades supporting peacebuilding and community development initiatives that have contributed significantly to stability in Northern Ireland following decades of conflict.
As the situation unfolds, the IFI continues to appreciate the long-standing support from all its partners, including the bipartisan support under various US administrations. The organisation is engaging with its US partners to seek clarity about the future of support from the US government for the delivery of its programs into the future.
- The uncertain future of US government support for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) has sparked concerns among grassroots organizations focused on issues like political alienation, as the withdrawal of funds could leave them in a precarious position.
- The US government's potential withdrawal of funding for the IFI could undermine ongoing efforts towards reconciliation in Northern Ireland, potentially jeopardizing safe spaces for dialogue among diverse groups and projects central to the Good Friday Agreement's vision of shared governance and peace.
