Civil society organisations across Ireland, who work on human rights and equality issues, are being invited to apply to the Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme 2025-26, which has been opened today by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”). The focus of this year’s grant scheme is to support projects that contribute to the advancement of several specific strategic objectives from our 2025-2027 Strategy Statement. Funding for the projects will be available across three strands and there is a specific focus on the Public Sector Duty across all strands. There are small grants available of up to €7,000 and general grants of up to €22,000. Individual grant funding has increased for the first time since 2017. Funding of €350,000 is available.
- Strand A: Applying the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty in combating disinformation, misinformation, and hate, and building community solidarity and belonging.
- Strand B: Applying the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty in challenging the structural causes of poverty, its impact on people and communities and the effectiveness of the State’s responses.
- Strand C: Applying the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty to ensure a human rights and equality approach to climate and environmental justice and a just transition.
Now in its tenth year, the Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme has already funded over 240 human rights and equality projects across Ireland, including research programmes, training or resource activities, conferences or events and cultural initiatives. Grants are open to civil society organisations, rights-holder and community led groups, and trade unions from across the country promoting human rights and equality. Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick said:
“We have seen extraordinary work done by local groups and civil society organisations who have received grant funding from us in the past decade. We are eager that this scheme will support projects where the voice and agency of people facing the greatest inequalities can inform the implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty. This will lead to better policies and service delivery outcomes for the groups and communities at risk of discrimination or non-fulfilment of their rights.”
- The deadline for receipt of applications is at 3pm (sharp) on Wednesday 4th June.
- Full details of the 2025-26 Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme are now available on the Commissions website.
- There will also be online information sessions on 6 May and 8 May. (ISL Interpretation is provided at the information session on 6 May). See Commission’s website for details.
ENDS/ For further information, please contact: Sarah Clarkin, IHREC Communications Manager, 01 8592641 / 087 4687760 sarah.clarkin@ihrec.ie Follow us on twitter @_IHREC
Editor’s Note
- IHREC will be providing a Civil Society Guide to the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty Civil Society Guide to the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty
- The Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme is part of the Commission’s statutory power to provide grants to promote human rights and equality under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
- All public bodies in Ireland have responsibility to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. This is a legal obligation, called the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, and it originated in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.