​Second round of Climate Justice Fund awards almost £3 million

Some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people will have access to secure supplies of water and increased food security thanks to nearly £3 million of awards from Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund.

Six charities will share £2,845,808 in the second round of the Scottish Government fund supporting projects in Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.

Environment and climate change minister Paul Wheelhouse confirmed the funding, which will help communities deal with climate change impacts such as floods, droughts and severe weather.

The six latest projects include Voluntary Services Overseas’ (VSO) More Action for Just Initiatives for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Africa project. It received £497,643 to help 30 communities across three districts in Malawi to benefit from equitable water plans.

Angela Salt, VSO UK director said: “I warmly welcome that the Scottish Government is supporting VSO’s climate resilience work in Malawi. The project will support VSO’s fight against poverty by working with poor people living in rural areas, who are particularly susceptible to climate change impacts.”

Scotland operates a modest budget, but in leading by example we may encourage other nations to use their larger budgets to tackle climate justice, learning from our existing projects

Christian Aid Scotland received £410,484 for its Improved Community Resilience through Increased Water Supply and Food Security programme, which will help the project in the Nsanje district of Malawi to increase water supply and food security for 1,500 households.

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Water for ALL project received £607,648 to help some of the poorest and most vulnerable groups in Malawi and Zambia to achieve equity and entitlement in accessing water resources.

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) received £473,213 for its Water for Agricultural Production project which aims to help small scale farmers in four Rwandan communities to use rainwater harvesting and wastewater technologies for agriculture, improving food and income security.

SCIAF’s director Alistair Dutton said: “We are very excited to begin this new project with the communities we serve in Rwanda. Decades of experience working with small farmers in the country have given us a real insight into the problems they are facing with climate change. Hands-on help with water harvesting and conservation will help rural families adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods.”

Water Witness International’s Fair Water Futures was boosted by £439,688 to help it focus on climate resilience and justice for vulnerable communities in Tanzania and Zambia though improved water rights to protect against drought, flood and pollution.

Lastly, Tearfund Scotland’s Enhancing Water Management in Rural Malawi was awarded £417,132 to provide sustainable safe water and water rights governance for 6,000 households in Balaka and Salima districts of Malawi.

Lorna McDonald, head of programme funding in Scotland said: "People in Malawi are suffering from the effects of climate change with a mixture of unpredictable heavy rains, prolonged dry spells and falling water tables. We are delighted that Scottish Government funds will help support people in the Balaka and Salima districts of Malawi to adapt to the effects of climate change and to have access to clean and safe water."

Mr Wheelhouse announced the awards at the Achieving Climate Justice event in London organised by Glasgow Caledonian University, Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

He said: “Scotland operates a modest budget, but in leading by example we may encourage other nations to use their larger budgets to tackle climate justice, learning from our existing projects.

“The key priority for these initiatives is to empower vulnerable groups in decision making to deliver climate resilience and alleviate poverty through water related projects. I very much look forward to hearing how they progress and initiate real, positive change for those affected by climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa.”