Ashoka opened its doors in Ireland with financial support from a private Foundation. Ashoka made a strategic commitment in 2003 to launch in Western Europe the programmes that have been most successful in developing countries and North America. Ireland has been identified as a key strategic location for the design and implementation of Ashoka’s programmes for Western Europe and beyond.

We have since created a partnership with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and elected five Ashoka Fellows and Ashoka-SEI Fellows, with globally unique and highly impactful models. 

Why Ireland? Why Now?

• A proliferation of social problems persists in Ireland: a failing health system, an inequitable education system, lack of affordable housing, environmental degradation, the integration of an increasingly aging population and citizens newly arrived from other parts of the world.
• Citizens across Ireland are increasingly realizing that they must look beyond government and business to solve our society’s problems. Old and newer problems are demanding innovative solutions, and while social entrepreneurs are responding, the necessary supports are not in place. 
• Citizen sector organizations are overly dependent on government funding with over 60% of funds coming from this source and only 12% coming from private and corporate donations. It is critical that the sector as a whole build a more sustainable and independent base of support.
• Many of the solutions to Ireland's social problems exist overseas, but due to a lack if International Co-operations and exchange, they don't find their way here.