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Assistance
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND

PO Box 2000, Belfast BT4 2QY
T: (028) 9076 8832
F: (028) 9076 3313

PO Box 2000, Dublin 2
T: (01) 478 0655
F: (01) 475 1351

W: www.internationalfundforireland.com
Contact: Paddy Purcell, Director General

Categories: Community & Rural Development; Debt; Equity


The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) is an international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986 to promote economic and social advancement and to encourage contact dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.

The Fund’s contributions come from the United States, European Union, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and, to date, are in excess of £350m.

The IFI pursues its objectives by stimulating private investment and enterprise, supplementing public programmes and supporting voluntary efforts including self-help schemes. It runs six programmes relevant to small business:

  • Disadvantaged Areas Initiative
  • Business Enterprise and Technology
  • Tourism
  • Urban Development
  • Rural Development
  • Wider Horizons.

The Fund also assists local community groups in providing workspace accommodation and business-loan funds to help small businesses.

It has two investment companies — Enterprise Equity (NI) Ltd and Enterprise Equity (Ireland) Ltd — that provide seed capital on normal commercial criteria to existing and start-up businesses.