HUNDREDS of Irish workers face a major blow after a global charity was forced to make staff redundant due to aid funding cuts.
Concern Worldwide confirmed that it “has been forced” to make staff redundant both in Ireland and some of the countries where it works, as 400 Irish staff were let go.
A statement issued by the company revealed that the most significant job losses were across 13 of the 26 countries where they work.
The affected countries are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Syria/Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Burkina Faso
The statement said: “Nearly 400 staff have been made redundant, but this number is expected to rise due to the severity of the funding cuts.
“Jobs are also at risk in the organisation’s head office in Dublin, but the numbers are still to be determined due to the fluidity of the situation.”
Concern Worldwide expressed gratitude to its employees “for their patience and understanding at an unprecedented time” and acknowledged the “steadfast support” of several donors and supporters.
Earlier this year, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order to freeze foreign assistance and shut down the US Agency for International Development – but there have been legal issues.
The charity organisation receives funding from the United States, USAID, UNICEF and WFP; the majority of them are reliant on US funding.
It remains unclear what funds will be made available to the charity at the end of Trump’s 90-day funding freeze but they are hopeful that they will be able to retain 50 per cent of the original funding.
The US Office of Management and Budget has also sent Concern a 36-point survey.
Aid organisations are asked to attest that they do not engage in human trafficking, that they do not receive funding from China, and that they will not promote Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI), gender or climate “ideologies”.
It’s understood that the Irish government will not fill the funding gap and that the Taoiseach does not plan on raising the issue when he visits Trump at the White House for St Patrick’s Day.
The Taniste will also not raise it with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
‘UNCERTAIN FUTURE’
Concern Worldwide stated that many of the countries worst affected by the aid cuts “are experiencing protracted conflicts, forcing a large percentage of their citizens to rely on humanitarian aid for their basic needs such as food, clean water and shelter.
“These aid cuts will have a direct impact on the ability of organisations like Concern to continue to reach those who desperately need our support.”
The statement also highlighted that the programmes providing services and support across healthcare and education are being cut, plus the cash assistance has been halted.
The halt of cash assistance means that families can no longer buy food and safe water.
And the efforts to support displaced people through vocational training and business grants are also now suspended until further notice.
The company pointed out that the agriculture programmes that protect farmers from drought and floods now “face an uncertain future”.
