Educating and acting for a better world, through resources, learning, partnerships and public engagement.
80:20 creates educational resources, learning spaces and partnerships that help people critically engage with inequality, human rights, sustainability and global justice, and support them to take informed action for a fairer world.
*Featured image: a painting of life in Lusaka, Zambia by artist Stary Mwabe
Impact at a glance
- 3,543 copies sold of 80-20 Development in an Unequal World, 7th edition
- 25+ events featuring the 7th edition, including festivals, workshops, exhibitions and conferences
- 36 modules and courses in Ireland and internationally using the 7th edition
- 11+ teaching materials informed by or developed using 80:20 resources
- 48 academic and research citations
- 2,000 copies published of the Questions Matter learner magazine
- 197 educators reached through Questions Matter micro-learning, workshops and related activities.
Voices of Impact
Recognised by partners and peers
Facts Matter was recognised by IDEA as part of the conversation on media literacy, critical thinking and Global Citizenship Education.
For educators
“This book is an example of how a very good resource continues to hold its place and value in our electronic age.”
In higher education
“I find it fantastic and use it regularly in teaching international development with undergrads.”
Lasting influence
“I read the book cover to cover many times and it had a big influence on me.”
The Story So Far
80:20’s impact is built on a long tradition of critical education, creative resources and collaborative action. From landmark publications such as 80-20 Development in an Unequal World to newer initiatives such as Facts Matter and Questions Matter, our work supports educators and learners to question dominant narratives, understand structural inequality and explore what meaningful action can look like.
2024 in Review
2024 was a year of immense change and challenges in the context of violations of international law and human rights in Gaza and the war in Ukraine, requiring 80:20 to pivot our work to address these issues in a flexible, responsive and timely way. Across 2024, issues such as peace education, women’s rights, greenwashing, inequality and emergencies dominated thematic work.
Key elements of 80:20’s education and publications work in 2024:
- Finalised 80:20’s new 5-year strategic plan 2024-2028
- Renewed the flagship publication project 80-20 Development in an Unequal World to begin work on an 8th Edition.
- Led on the development of a large-scale diversity and social inclusion wall mural project at St Cronan’s National School in collaboration with student members of the St Cronan’s Student Council across all class groups and artist Holly Pereira. The project featured in the local press and RTE News2Day children’s news programmae.
- Workshops: Supported hands-on workshops with a Professional Master of Education (PME) student group in the NCAD ‘Change Lab‘ and the Global Citizenship Education Day at the University of Galway; led a Knowledge Shares summer series session with members in the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA); led workshops as part of Social Justice Week, St Michael’s Loreto Secondary School Navan with Transition Year and Politics & Society students.
- Participated in activities with the Euromed Rights Network ad part of the Women’s Rights and Gender Justice Working Group, the Climate Task Force and the Economic Social and Cultural Rights Working Group and supported a youth-approach in the Network.
- Participated and voted in the Euromed Rights General Assembly.
- Delivered three STAND short courses across higher education colleges in Ireland.
80:20’s advocacy and education campaign activities in 2024:
- Submitted joint submissions with IDEA members to the Irish Aid GCE Strategy Mid-Term Review with the Formal Education Working Group and the Adult and Community Education Working Group.
- Launched the World Food Day education campaign in October 2024, in conjunction with developmenteducation.ie, Scoilnet, Self Help Africa and Concern Worldwide.
- Co-signed a letter on ‘Pass the Occupied Territories Bill’ with members of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine (IAACP).
- Co-signed a joint letter with members of the Women’s Rights and Gender Justice Working Group of Euromed Rights on International Women’s Day 2024: ‘Wreaking havoc on women’s fundamental rights in Palestine’.
- Joined the launch of A Better Tomorrow Manifesto: Coalition 2030 European Elections Manifesto with Coalition 2030 members.
- Joined a pre-election education and advocacy initiative ‘Make Palestine an Election Issue’ as part of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Coalition for Palestine.
- Signed the Declaration of EuroMed Rights’ 13th General Assembly: Human Rights – More Than Ever!
Acting as lead agency on behalf of the developmenteducation.ie consortium, key elements of 80:20’s programme work in 2024 included:
- Consolidating the partnership-approach on the Consortium with members Aidlink, Concern Worldwide, the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), Self Help Africa and Trócaire.
- Piloting and launching the members area to act as a new space to support educators directly as a personalised digital bookshelf.
- Developing a new strategic plan 2024 – 2028.
- Adding an additional 80 resources to the online resources library and launching a call for an updated writer’s roster of contributors.
- Co-curating and jointly developing the 20 Years in 20 Objects exhibition as part of The Irish Development Education Association’s 21th anniversary conference. Including a walking tour and the exhibition as part of the Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects project.
- New feature: launched the Guidelines for Producing Development Education and Global Citizenship Education Resources: second edition, following an open consultation process.
- Re-developing the website to navigate materials based on each educator’s role, such as post primary teacher or youth teacher.
Key highlights from developmenteducation.ie in 2024:
89,600
The number of people who visited the website in 2024
863
The number of people engaged in the 2024 programme through a range of five workshops & events and online surveys
94%
The percentage of survey respondents who took part in our hands-on with global citizenship education events programme and reported an improvement in understanding and literacy on global issues.
A snapshot of 2019 - 2023
Over the past 5 years, we have seen the impact of our work on tackling misinformation through human rights education through projects like Questions Matter. This project was awarded Best Community-Based Initiative at Media Literacy Ireland Awards 2024.
Our “Big Decisions Take Big People” mural project with the Student Council of St. Cronan’s National School highlighted young voices advocating for diversity and inclusion.
Here is a snapshot of the previous 5 years:
December 2023
Questions Matter
We launched Questions Matter, a microlearning adult education project, with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), Bray Area Partnership and the Bray Adult Learning Centre. 
December 2023
10 Myths About Greenwashing
We produced 10 Myths About Greenwashing with developmenteducation.ie 
September 2022
Change Lab exhibition
We held workshops with student art teachers as part of the Change Lab exhibition, National College of Art and Design. Photo by Tony Murphy/NCAD
September 2021
Facts Matter
We launched Facts Matter, a guide for adult literacy tutors that tackles disinformation through human rights education, co-published with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) on the UN International Day for Universal Access to Information.
July 2021
The People’s Vaccine Alliance Ireland
We joined the launch of The People’s Vaccine Alliance Ireland, July 2021.
March 2020
Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects
We curated the Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects exhibition with developmenteducation.ie, Clare Street, Dublin.
May 2019
Bray Youth Forum
We hosted the Bray Youth Forum for young people to meet 11 local election candidates as part of a ‘world café’ style session to have their views heard in St Cronan’s National School, Bray.
