Humza Yousaf MSP announces the opening of the International Development Small Grant Scheme 2016
Scotland has a proud tradition of helping the world’s most vulnerable people. This continues today through the work of the many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Scotland carrying out vital projects across the globe.
The Scottish Government wants to see our international NGOs flourish and develop. We want them to be able to help more people, innovate and try new approaches and open up opportunities for more Scots to get involved in international development through work or through volunteering.
Last week, I was pleased to announce that the final year of the three-year pilot of the Scottish Government’s small grants programme has opened for applications.
We are making up to £500,000 available specifically for smaller organisations looking to undertake work in the Scottish Government’s international development priority countries: Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Indian states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
We want to see more Scottish NGOs delivering on Scotland’s proud tradition of international humanitarianism
Humza Yusuf
We are deliberately offering this to organisations who are not yet large enough to apply for our mainstream funding rounds. There are many larger NGOs doing terrific work abroad but there is room for growth in the sector and we want to see more Scottish NGOs delivering on Scotland’s proud tradition of international humanitarianism.
During my visits to Malawi, Zambia, India and Pakistan, I have seen for myself the transformative effect that Scottish organisations can make to everyday life for the poor and most vulnerable in these countries.
The fund is open to organisations who are looking into the feasibility of a future project, building the capacity in their organisation or carrying out a development project with up to £60,000.
Earlier this year I met with ‘YES! Tanzania’ to announce the recipients of the 2015 small grants programme. YES! Tanzania is an organization looking to empower young people through sport and a great example of how the programme works.
In 2014 they undertook a feasibility study through the Small Grants Programme to look into using their network of sports groups to educate young people about HIV. The resulting research was used to develop a programme which was then supported through the 2015 funding round. Using this as a base, they were able to recruit new fundraisers and volunteers and I am looking forward to seeing how their work progresses.
Twenty six grants totalling £888,486 have been awarded since the programme launched in 2013. This was the result of the Scottish Government collaborating with Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, the Scotland Malawi Partnership and the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland. I am pleased that the SMP and NIDOS in Scotland have kindly agreed to once again hold events that offer support and guidance to enable organisations to submit the best possible application.
I would urge all small-scale international development NGOs in Scotland to consider applying for the small grants programme to give their organisation the means to grow and the opportunity to assist some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) is SNP MSP for Glasgow and Minister for Europe and International Development.
