Aidlink is an established Irish international development organization founded in Dublin in 1982. Aidlink is committed to achieving gender equality and ending poverty in Africa, while simultaneously raising awareness of global inequality in Ireland.
Core Mission : Aidlink’s core mission is to empower communities to take greater control over their lives and livelihoods by delivering long-term, sustainable results through a unique partnership model.
Aidlink operates through a tested partnership model with established African Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations. This focus on localization and capacity building is central to their strategy, ensuring that local people are empowered to tackle poverty and catalyse change within their own communities.
Geographic and Community Focus : Aidlink concentrates its programmatic work in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. They specifically target the most isolated and marginalized communities, including traditionally nomadic pastoralist communities like the Maasai and Turkana in Kenya.
Key Programme Areas & Commitment: Aidlink adopts a holistic approach to development, focusing on the structural causes of inequality and poverty.
1. Gender Equality & Education: Aidlink is particularly committed to putting the furthest behind first—often women and girls. They work to address social and cultural barriers that cause children, especially young girls, to drop out of school. Key efforts include:
-
Promoting gender equality and rights-based education.
-
Tackling harmful cultural practices like Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that impede on a girl’s education, agency, and human rights.
-
Providing training and support for students, teachers, and school Boards of Management to create child-friendly learning environments.
2. Livelihoods & Resilience: We Supporting families to achieve more sustainable livelihoods.
-
Developing sustainable agricultural practices.
-
Delivering WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programmes.
-
Utilizing their partner networks for an effective, on-the-ground response during crises.
Governance and Recognition: Aidlink is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors and is recognized for its high standards in financial management and governance. The organization has been shortlisted for, and won, multiple awards in the small/medium not-for-profit category of the Chartered Accountants Ireland Published Accounts Awards.
