Troubles to Triumph:
Building Sustainable Peace and Prosperity in
Northern Ireland
Established in 1986 by the Governments of the United Kingdom
and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the International
Fund for Ireland (IFI) promotes contact, dialogue and reconciliation
between Nationalists and Unionists in Northern Ireland and
the border counties of Ireland. The U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) manages the U.S. Government’s contributions
to the Fund in support of its efforts to establish a sustainable
peace in Northern Ireland.
Among Mark Phillips’ chief responsibilities as an
International Co-Operations Specialist with USAID is preparation
of the Presidential Certification Package for IFI. The Package
contains documentation showing that the Fund meets the necessary
requirements for the release of monies to it.
President Bush recently authorized the 2003 U.S. contribution
to the Fund in the amount of $49.8 million. From Phillips’ perspective,
this investment pays significant dividends.
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| From left to right: Alexander Smith, Joint Director General, International Fund for Ireland; Paula Feeney, Former Director, E&E/ECA; Barbara Stephenson, U.S. Consul General, Belfast; and William McCarter, Chairman, Board of Directors, International Fund for Ireland; Mark Phillips, E&E/ECA Ireland Desk Officer. |
“American dollars help the Fund in its efforts to
effect change at the grassroots level by working with communities
burdened with high unemployment and a history of violence,” he
explains.
IFI programs that provide people with the tools to succeed
and build bridges of understanding between Catholics and
Protestants helped to establish the foundation for the landmark
Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which created a political
framework for peace. Youth development initiatives provide
hope through training that prepares young people to enter
the labor force or further their education, so that they
may contribute to a more prosperous Northern Ireland.
Phillips’ experience with USAID has been personally
rewarding:
“I’m part of an organization that is shaping
history. Hopefully, the U.S. Government’s continued
financial and technical support will help Northern Ireland
and other nations build a brighter future for their citizens.”
* * * * *
With an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Boston
University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore,
Mark Phillips began his career as an attorney in private
practice. Since moving into the public sector in 1987, Mr.
Phillips has worked at the U.S. Small Business Administration,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and USAID.
He is currently an International Co-Operations Specialist,
Office of European Country Affairs, Bureau for Europe and
Eurasia, USAID.
The US Agency for International Development has provided
economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than
40 years.
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