'By supporting stability, we’re also safeguarding the nearly $2 billion investment by American companies': United States links $4m funding boost to Northern Ireland growth and investment
International Fund for Ireland backing tied to local jobs, skills and cross-community economic regeneration
The United States has announced a $4 million contribution to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), reinforcing a long-standing bipartisan commitment to peacebuilding that continues to carry significant economic weight for Northern Ireland and the wider region.
U.S. Ambassador Edward S. Walsh said the funding reflects America’s view that political stability in Northern Ireland is directly linked to economic opportunity, highlighting the region’s attractiveness to international investors. He pointed to approximately $2 billion in existing U.S. corporate investment, framing peace not only as a diplomatic success but as a foundation for sustained business expansion.
During a visit to Dublin, the Ambassador met recipients of IFI-backed programmes, showcasing how peace funding is translating into practical economic outcomes — from workforce development to local enterprise growth and cross-community infrastructure.
He explained: “The progress we've seen in Northern Ireland over the past decades is remarkable. Programs supported by the International Fund for Ireland demonstrate how sustained commitment to peace and reconciliation can deliver real and lasting change in people’s lives.
"By supporting stability, we’re also safeguarding the nearly $2 billion investment by American companies in Northern Ireland and the wider region, while creating new opportunities for future U.S. business growth.”
IFI Chairperson Shona McCarthy welcomed the announcement, noting the timing ahead of the organisation’s 2026–2030 strategy for peacebuilding and economic renewal
She added: “On behalf of the International Fund for Ireland, I wish to extend our gratitude to the United States for its continued and longstanding commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. This funding announcement of $4 million, along with a €4 million contribution for 2026 from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, comes at a pivotal moment as we prepare to launch our next phase of peacebuilding with a new strategy for 2026-2030. The support of international donors, particularly the political and financial support from the United States over the past 40 years, is vital to our neutral and impartial work, ensuring we can continue to build a shared, peaceful, and prosperous future for all.”
The United States promotes the IFI’s work to advance the sustainability of peace building at the community level, for example, by enabling the construction of a new cross-community shared space facility on a site that was surrounded by peace barriers and funding employment skills training for vulnerable youth so they may contribute to the region’s economic development and stability.