The key partners of Irish Aid in Programme Countries are national governments. Bilateral agreements between Ireland and our partner governments constitute the legal basis for a programme of bilateral cooperation. This agreed programme is based on a nationally defined vision of development and poverty reduction

Ireland fully recognises that sustainable improvements in the overall quality of life in developing countries can only be achieved through the sustained commitment of national governments. Consequently the Irish Aid approach is to situate our support within national development frameworks, to direct resources at the strengthening of national institutions and to support the delivery of effective services – all of which can be of long term benefit to the poor.

This bilateral relationship between Irish Aid and seven programme countries: Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and East Timor, is governed by individual Country Strategy Plans (CSPs). These CSPs are negotiated between DCI, the given national government, other donors, and usually a number of the larger international organisations. The agreements are heavily focused around the achievement of sustainable poverty reduction and are effected through government institutions at national and local government level. The agreements are typically reviewed every three years.

These agreements concentrate on trying to create coherent and sustainable government policy to meet the basic needs of people such as health care, education, clean water supplies and food security. Within this overall policy Irish Aid uses a number of funding and support mechanisms to achieve agreed targets. These mechanisms include; General Budget Support, Sector Support, Debt Relief, Area-based Programmes, Projects and Technical Assistance.

This partnership with the recipient countries is vital if the beneficiaries of Irish Aid programmes are to have ownership of their own development. This structured framework for cooperation which sets out the responsibilities of both sides and facilitates regular, open dialogue, crucially allows the recipient country to lead in the formulation of development strategies which affect their own country. This enables local capacity to be built or strengthened and sustainable progress to be achieved.