Helping Unionists and Nationalists to learn, work and live together as part of a shared future on the island of Ireland Annual Report & Accounts 2015 OUR KEY PRIORITIES Developing and funding initiatives that tackle segregation and promote integration to build a lasting peace in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties of Ireland. LONDONDERRY/DERRY DONEGAL ANTRIM TYRONE DOWN FERMANAGH LEITRIM ARMAGH MONAGHAN SLIGO CAVAN LOUTH CONTENTS 02 Chairman’s Foreword 06 The Board 09 Introduction 12 Peace Walls Programme 26 Peace Impact Programme 46 Community Consolidation – Peace Consolidation Strategy 2016-2020 51 Accounts COVER IMAGE: Coaches Alan Teggart and Joanne Quinn celebrate the Sport Changes Life programme with participants Chantelle Harper (left) and Adam McFarland (right). ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 | 1 Chairman’s Foreword At the time of writing the Foreword to last year’s Annual Report, we were waiting with cautious optimism for the Stormont House Agreement to be completed and implemented. However, these past 12 months have brought significant challenges to the political structures and the rate of progress has been frustratingly slow. Budget cuts, the reform of the welfare system, Process. Progress, at a community level, has continued paramilitary activity and other remained strong. concerns have threatened to collapse Northern Ireland’s devolved government. As I write Our assistance has deliberately challenged today, a new series of multi-party talks have and encouraged groups to take new measured concluded after months of negotiations. The risks and bring forward bold ideas that can ‘Fresh Start’ deal signals movement on a transform their communities and weaken the range of complicated issues that the Northern grip of paramilitaries. The achievements of Ireland Assembly has yet to address fully, this approach are significant and set us apart including how we deal with our past. from other funders. During this period of profound political This year marks the end of our Community uncertainty, the International Fund for Transformation 2012-2015 Strategy. It was Ireland has intensified its activity and secured specifically designed to harness the Fund’s impressive results in constituencies that have unique independence and acceptance among traditionally opposed the political settlement. all communities. There has been significant progress in addressing core conflict related With our support, many communities that are issues including paramilitary influence, vulnerable to destabilisation and a internal tensions within communities, return to sectarian violence have become sectarianism, issues around cultural identity more resilient and remained with the Peace and expression, engagement with disaffected 2 | ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 MAIN IMAGE: A participant from Strabane AYE shares his experiences of the Peace Impact Programme. LEFT: Chairman Dr Adrian Johnston at an event organised by Holywell Trust in Londonderry/Derry. RIGHT: Community representatives in discussion at an event organised by the Ulidia Training Peace Impact Project. youth and overcoming the exclusion of Their stories are brave, compelling and women in peace building. inspiring. I am pleased and grateful to them for sharing their stories with us. These are very significant steps in the history of Northern Ireland and the southern border Evaluation has always been important for counties. As this report reflects, there is a lot the Fund. For this reason we commissioned we and our donors can be proud of. an independent analysis of our Peace Impact and Peace Walls Programmes. The findings Sustaining and building peace is a task that are hugely encouraging and affirm the requires constant work. The year under effectiveness of the Fund’s interventions and review has been a very active one for the the unique difference that we are making. International Fund for Ireland and can be Importantly, they acknowledge that there is a characterised by innovation and sustained challenge for political and other bodies to step momentum. As Chairman, I am fortunate up with us in order to translate momentum to be able to talk to many people who are into sustainable long-term change. personally responding to the challenges of a shared future - many of them from The outcomes and continued progress communities which are marginalised and of these programmes has given all of us disadvantaged and where the legacy of involved enormous satisfaction. Yet in the paramilitary influence is still evident. course of this work, it has become apparent that further targeted interventions are The case studies included in this year’s Annual essential to consolidate and sustain peace. Report provide an opportunity for you to Moreover, there remains an urgent need hear directly from those involved in our work for an independent organisation that is and find out more about the challenges and properly qualified and ready to take risks in rewards at the heart of peace building. partnership with communities. CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD | 3 In September 2016, the Fund will have been in operation for 30 years – a remarkable achievement. These three decades of Dr Adrian Johnston essential work would not have been describes the work of the International possible without our international donors Fund for Ireland and we remain grateful for their enduring to Congressman Brendan Boyle support and encouragement. during a visit to Londonderry/Derry. 4 | ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 LEFT: The Community Consolidation – Peace Consolidation Strategy will intensify and expand the Fund’s programmes. In November, with the support and We have been fortunate this year to endorsement of the British and Irish have a chance to share our work with governments, we launched an ambitious representatives from many of our donor five-year strategy called ‘Community countries. Visits from legislators based in Consolidation – Peace Consolidation the United States, Australia and Canada 2016–2020’. It sets out how we will and provided an opportunity to introduce them must intensify and expand our current to recipients of our funding, allowing them programmes. It very deliberately brings a to hear first-hand the impact that the Fund renewed focus on dealing with the factors has had on individual lives and communities. that prevent young people from beginning We have continued to remain in contact with the journey to peace and those that make the representatives and, as is the way of these them vulnerable to paramilitary influence. modern times, we have reconnected with I am pleased to share details of the strategy many through our social media channels. in this report and the document is available Their continued interest and support for our in full from our website – work is greatly appreciated. www.internationalfundforireland.com. In September 2016, the Fund will have been We recognise that it is difficult for the in operation for 30 years – a remarkable donor governments to continue to support achievement. These three decades of essential programmes on the island of Ireland at a work would not have been possible without time of budgetary austerity. But we also our international donors and we remain believe that now is not the time to risk grateful for their enduring support and walking away. The Board is working closely encouragement. We are particularly fortunate with the British and Irish governments to to have representatives from these countries secure an appropriate funding structure that serving as Observers at our Board Meetings, will compound the value of secured baseline providing valuable insight and guidance. funding in order to deliver greater impact at community level. Over three decades, the In March 2015, Mrs Hilary Singleton, Fund has proven adept at assisting projects Mr Allen McAdam and Mr Paddy Harte obtain other sources of funding. joined the Board. These new colleagues have brought with them experiences and fresh The Fund has never shied away from sharing perspectives, which will undoubtedly help the learning of its programmes nor working the Fund in the coming years. in partnership with policy makers and funding bodies on both sides of the Irish Finally, on behalf of the Board, I would like border and in other international areas to thank the Joint Chairs and Members of the emerging from conflict. Our door is open Inter-Governmental Advisory Committee for and we will continue to be active in our their guidance and advice, the Secretariat, engagements with all and, in particular, we our Development Officers, Managing Agents recognise the potential for our current and and other partners for their on-going efforts forthcoming programmes to help support the to deliver programmes that are making a very implementation of the Fresh Start Agreement. real and meaningful difference. CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD | 5 The Board The Board of the International Fund for Ireland is appointed jointly by the British and Irish governments. Representatives of the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand attend meetings of the Board. 6 | ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Pictured are (L-R) Mr Billy Gamble Ms Dorothy Clarke Mrs Siobhan Fitzpatrick CBE Dr Adrian Johnston, Chairman Mr Allen McAdam Mrs Hilary Singleton Mr Paddy Harte. The United States of America, The European Union and governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were represented this year by: Mr Dan Hynes and Ms Stella O’Leary, United States of America; Ms Tamara Pavlin and Ms Deša Srsen, European Union; Mr Brian Doherty,