The Mission Development Office / International Development
The Mission Development Office (MDO) of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (COLCGS) Ireland is committed to addressing the needs of 'those impoverished by social injustice who are the most adversely affected by the current economic, ecological and political crises, particularly girls, women and children', in line with the COLCGS 31st Congregational Chapter Directive
The Mission Development Office believes all lives are equal, and that girls, women and children should not live in poverty. We believe in long-term solutions that address the root causes of poverty. We know from decades of experience that the best approach is to work directly with girls, women and children affected by poverty to overcome the challenges they face.
The MDO is committed to people experiencing poverty, particularly girls, women and children, and to challenging systems that keep them locked into intergenerational poverty.
We work with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation. We do this through robust development programmes based on a defined theory of change, policy work, collaboration, development education, with an emphasis on personal growth, social justice and informed by our organisational values.
When girls, women and children have the power to claim their basic human rights, they can escape poverty - permanently.
Who we work with
The MDO provides grant management support to Good Shepherd projects working with girls, women and children to affirm their dignity and uphold their human rights.
The MDO acts as an intermediary for all Republic of Ireland donors wishing to support COLCGS International Projects. Through our longstanding membership of the donor organisation Misean Cara, the MDO will manage funding awarded for COLCGS International Projects, ensuring fair access to funding opportunities, impactful interventions, and robust reporting.
The MDO manages Misean Cara funded projects for the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd's international projects.
The MDO has close collaboration with the Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF), headquartered in Italy. GSIF's role is to provide technical, operational, and capacity-building support to international projects.
The level of support provided by GSIF to Misean Cara funded international projects is tailored to the requirements of the project and determined in consultation with MDO and the local teams.
Compliance and Monitoring
The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and the Mission Development Office comply with, and are guided by, the Irish Charities Regulatory Authority.
We are committed to the highest standards of Project Management, Safeguarding and Financial Compliance, monitoring and evaluation and relationship strengthening.
With a focus on partnership and shared learning, the MDO will support COLCGS International Project teams in executing their strategic plans.
The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (COLCGS) is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in special consultation with Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The MDO, through this status, ensures that the voices of the most vulnerable girls, women and children are heard at the United Nations. A unique strength of COLCGS is their capacity to challenge the vested interests that perpetuate the injustice of gender ineqality and poverty across the globe.
Together, with our partners, we seek to progress a model of human and economic development that combines girls and women's empowerment, social and economic justice and care fo the enviornment.
Sustainable Development Goals
The MDO works to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which charts a pathway from 2015 to 2030 for every nation. We focus on addressing gender inequality and eradicating violence against women and girls, ending poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
We do this, conscious of the threat of climate change, and the need to build inclusive, peaceful societies and economies for all.
Journals
Economic Independence Helps Reduce Violence Against Women
The women of Domaine Marial are sewing a bright new garment. Many hands hold down the colourful fabric as one […]
Read More
Sharing Success in a Dairy Cooperative
Jayasri and her family – her husband, two children and parents-inn-law – are landless. Because they have no land of […]
Read More
“Thank God we are together again” – The path to Ireland for one Syrian family
It is a typical school scene: a group of children sit in a classroom, several more play football outside, a […]
Read More
Two new businesses help Dropati find her own voice
Dropati is a housewife living in the rural village of Khursipar in Madhya Pradesh in central India. When Dropati first […]
Read More
“He will have a diploma. She will have a diploma.”
“Il aura un diplôme. Elle aura un diplôme,” chant the children of the Bon Pasteur School in Domaine Marial, a […]
Read More