The chief executive of troubled aid agency Self Help Development International, Hilary McDonagh, has announced her intention to resign, citing personal reasons.
Ms McDonagh's departure follows months of feuding between different groups linked to the organisation and a threat by the Government to halt funding for its projects in five African countries.
Ms McDonagh, a daughter of Self Help founder Dr Noel McDonagh, was chief executive for the past 11 years. Board member Keara Robbins has also resigned, a board meeting was told earlier this week.
Former Department of Agriculture secretary general John Malone is to head up a review of governance within the agency, the meeting was also informed.
Last month, the agency appointed a new chairman, former Glanbia chairman Tom Corcoran, and two new board members in a bid to avert cuts in funding from the State's aid programme, Irish Aid.
The agency specialises in farmer-to-farmer aid to developing countries, but its support base among Irish farmers has been damaged by recent public disagreements with the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), which accused it of being run as a "self-perpetuating private club".
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