INTERNATIONAL development agencies in Scotland are to get a share in £500,000 worth of grants to help them advance their work in seven different developing countries in Africa and Asia.
Small Scottish-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can now apply for grants under a Scottish Government programme to plan, implement and expand projects which help some of the world’s poorest communities.
The fund has been designed to nurture Scottish expertise in international development, encourage innovation and increase the scope and size of international NGOs in Scotland.
Minister for Europe and International Development Humza Yousaf said: “The small grants programme continues to help smaller Scottish-based international development organisations increase their scope and ambitions while continuing to deliver assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
“The programme is helping to strengthen the third sector in Scotland and creating more opportunities for Scottish people to get involved in development work overseas.
“I encourage all Scottish-based small international development organisations to consider applying.
“Since the programme opened in 2013, it has provided 26 Scottish organisations with grants totalling more than £880,000. This was the result of close working between the Scottish Government, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, the Scotland Malawi Partnership and the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland.”
The programme, administered by Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, is designed to accommodate smaller requests, and project grants up to £60,000 are available for over a three-year period.
A maximum of £10,000 for feasibility and capacity-building grants is available to cover a one-year period.
The funding will go to projects in Scotland’s international development priority countries which includes Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Indian states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
Gillian Wilson, chief executive of the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS), said: “NIDOS is thrilled that the third round of the small grants programme is being announced.
“This programme, available to fund projects in seven different countries in Africa and Asia, is an innovative channel for partnership between communities overseas and in Scotland and has already shown great value over the last two years.
“By funding small and vibrant organisations the Scottish Government is helping to improve the lives of thousands of people. Small organisations often have strong partnerships with communities on the ground and are delivering exciting projects that support people to develop businesses, use sports to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, improve the quality of education and much more.”
David Hope-Jones, principal officer of the Scotland Malawi Partnership, said an estimated 94,000 Scots have links to Malawi and around 46 per cent of all Scots personally know someone with a Malawi connection, making it one of the world’s strongest people-to-people links.
Helping hand bears fruit
SCOTTISH charity Malawi Fruits works with groups in the north of the country to grow sustainable community businesses.
It provides start-up finance, training and support to community enterprises that have a commitment to invest all profits into other community businesses, orphan care programmes and other charitable ventures.
Malawi Fruits trustee Kevin Simpson
said: “After a few trips to Malawi for building projects we realised our impact was very limited. A number of us were business owners and we became convinced that lasting change on a big scale would only come through business rather than aid or charity.
“We are working with smallholder farmers who have never grown a cash crop before. We lend them seeds, fertilisers and any other resources they need. When they sell the crop they repay the loans and have cash for their families.
“We want to help large numbers of people to set up sustainable businesses which will provide income for their families so they can afford school and health-care fees.
“I met farmers last month whose children will now go to secondary school because of the help we have given
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